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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: bear · mug · clip · charge · stick · season · safe · bay

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  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. mug — to rob
  2. clip — to cut
  3. charge — in control
  4. bear — the animal
  5. season — of the year
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. mug — a cup
  8. charge — a price
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. mug — a face
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. season — in sport
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. bear — the animal
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. charge — electricity
  22. clip — for paper
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  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