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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. root — of a plant
  3. board — to get on
  4. root — of a word
  5. drill — army training
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. board — a committee
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. squash — to crush
  11. deal — to handle
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. clip — to cut
  15. squash — the sport
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. wake — a trail
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. root — the cause
  20. drill — the tool
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. clip — for paper
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. drill — a practice

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com