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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
468
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: clip · jam · bark · can · roll · snap · bowl · safe

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  7. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. clip — to cut
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. roll — a list
  6. clip — for paper
  7. clip — a video
  8. can — to be able to
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. roll — a cake
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. can — a tin
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. bark — to shout
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. can — a tin
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. snap — to click
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bowl — to roll

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