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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: lie · board · clip · key · plane · hide · ball · bass

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. board — to get on
  4. clip — to cut
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. clip — for paper
  11. ball — a dance
  12. key — the most important part
  13. bass — the fish
  14. key — in music
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. key — for a lock
  19. plane — a tool
  20. bass — low music
  21. ball — a great time
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. board — a committee
  24. lie — to recline

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