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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: snap · clip · cue · spell · deal · bound · safe · foot

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. deal — to handle
  3. cue — for pool
  4. spell — a short time
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. clip — a video
  7. bound — tied together
  8. foot — a measure
  9. spell — magic
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. snap — to click
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. clip — to cut
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. clip — for paper
  19. cue — a hint
  20. bound — certain
  21. cue — a signal
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. bound — obliged
  24. spell — letters

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