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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: jam · fan · mouse · charge · dip · clip · mug · ground

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  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. mouse — the animal
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. clip — to cut
  4. charge — a price
  5. ground — crushed
  6. charge — in control
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mug — a cup
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. clip — for paper
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. mug — to rob
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. ground — the earth
  18. mug — a face
  19. jam — to spread on bread
  20. dip — to sink
  21. ground — a position
  22. charge — electricity
  23. fan — a supporter
  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