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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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: pitcher · can · clip · bound · firm · coach

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  18. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. can — to be able to
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. bound — obliged
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. can — a tin
  10. firm — steady
  11. can — a tin
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. bound — tied together
  14. firm — decided
  15. bound — certain
  16. firm — a company
  17. clip — for paper
  18. clip — to cut

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