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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: straw · pass · clip · toast · can · mate · coach · ruler

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. can — a tin
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. can — to be able to
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. pass — a permit
  9. clip — for paper
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. mate — a friend
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. straw — dry grass
  18. mate — to breed
  19. toast — bread
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. mate — a partner
  23. clip — to cut
  24. can — a tin

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