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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.

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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: can · mark · firm · mug · clip · coach · tube · face

  1. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — to cut
  2. mug — to rob
  3. face — part of the head
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. can — a tin
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. can — a tin
  9. mark — a grade
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. firm — a company
  12. firm — decided
  13. mark — a trace
  14. tube — the underground
  15. firm — steady
  16. clip — a video
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. can — to be able to
  19. mug — a face
  20. clip — for paper
  21. face — to point toward
  22. tube — a container
  23. face — to confront
  24. mug — a cup

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