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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: toast · roll · tube · bound · mark · bear · clip · lash

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. bound — obliged
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. mark — a trace
  6. bear — the animal
  7. roll — a cake
  8. mark — a grade
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. bound — tied together
  11. tube — a container
  12. bear — the animal
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. bound — certain
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. roll — a list
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. tube — the underground
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. toast — bread
  22. clip — for paper
  23. clip — to cut
  24. clip — a video

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