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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: content · fan · board · clip · suit · bass · can · staff

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. staff — employees
  3. board — to get on
  4. staff — a stick
  5. content — the amount
  6. board — a committee
  7. bass — the fish
  8. suit — clothes
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. suit — in cards
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. can — to be able to
  14. can — a tin
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. clip — to cut
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. staff — employees
  19. clip — for paper
  20. can — a tin
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. suit — to fit
  23. bass — low music
  24. content — happy

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