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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 116 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: clip · bay · can · bore · rock · tube · ruler · wound

  1. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — for paper
  2. bore — to drill
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. clip — a video
  6. wound — an injury
  7. tube — the underground
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. wound — an injury
  12. can — a tin
  13. tube — a container
  14. rock — a stone
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. rock — music
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. can — a tin
  20. bore — to tire
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. clip — to cut

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