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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 116 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: mug · bound · season · clip · sharp · bass · lean · fan

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  10. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Hold the papers together with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. mug — to rob
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. season — of the year
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. bound — obliged
  7. bound — tied together
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. clip — a video
  10. clip — to cut
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. lean — to bend
  13. sharp — clever
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. bass — the fish
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. mug — a cup
  19. bass — low music
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. season — in sport
  22. bound — certain
  23. lean — thin
  24. clip — for paper

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