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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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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: foot · ruler · saw · bay · clip · vault · mug · toast

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. clip — to cut
  3. foot — a measure
  4. clip — for paper
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. toast — bread
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. clip — a video
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. mug — a cup
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. vault — a safe
  16. saw — the tool
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. saw — the tool
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mug — a face
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. ruler — for measuring

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