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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: shower · cabinet · mouse · clip · fine · bear · ruler · ball

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. shower — rain
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. clip — to cut
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. ball — a dance
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. ball — a great time
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. fine — all right
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. clip — for paper
  18. fine — high quality
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. bear — the animal
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. bear — the animal
  24. shower — to wash

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