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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: mug · arm · chip · coach · clip · bulb · bass · bowl

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  5. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. bass — the fish
  4. clip — to cut
  5. clip — a video
  6. chip — for betting
  7. bulb — for light
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. mug — a face
  16. mug — to rob
  17. mug — a cup
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. chip — to eat
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. clip — for paper
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. bass — low music

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