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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: can · wave · ruler · file · bass · clip · nail · season

  1. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  22. Did you ________________ the meat?
  23. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — for paper
  2. season — in sport
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. season — of the year
  7. file — a line of people
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. bass — low music
  10. clip — to cut
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. bass — the fish
  14. file — a document
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. clip — a video
  17. can — a tin
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. can — a tin
  20. can — to be able to
  21. wave — a sudden rise
  22. season — to add flavour
  23. file — a tool
  24. wave — of the sea

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