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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: lie · squash · wax · roll · stick · deal · clip · can

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. clip — a video
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. clip — to cut
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. deal — to handle
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. wax — to grow
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. lie — to recline
  15. can — to be able to
  16. squash — the sport
  17. squash — to crush
  18. roll — a list
  19. roll — a cake
  20. clip — for paper
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. can — a tin

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