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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bass · ruler · can · safe · arm · clip · mark · mine

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  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. arm — a part of something
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. mark — a grade
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. can — a tin
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. clip — to cut
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. clip — for paper
  11. can — to be able to
  12. mine — for digging
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. mark — a trace
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. clip — a video
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. can — a tin
  23. bass — the fish
  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