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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 124 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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

Word bank: net · pass · clip · toast · lash · game

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. pass — a permit
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. clip — for paper
  6. game — wild animals
  7. net — in sport
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. net — for catching
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. clip — to cut
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. net — after costs
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. game — a match
  17. toast — bread
  18. toast — the most admired

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