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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · toast · bound · leaves · arm · pitcher · mouse · bowl

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. clip — a video
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. bound — tied together
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. bound — obliged
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. toast — bread
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. clip — to cut
  15. bound — certain
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. clip — for paper
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. mouse — the animal

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