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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
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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: jam · ruler · clip · toast · staff · rule · pop · wax

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. We're almost out of ________________.
  4. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. pop — soda
  4. clip — to cut
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. pop — music
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. staff — employees
  9. clip — for paper
  10. wax — to grow
  11. staff — a stick
  12. toast — bread
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. pop — to visit
  19. staff — employees
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. rule — a law
  23. rule — government
  24. wax — for sculpting

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