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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.

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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: rock · snap · net · ruler · clip · plane · pass · track

  1. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — for paper
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. pass — a permit
  6. rock — music
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. net — after costs
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. plane — a tool
  12. net — in sport
  13. net — for catching
  14. track — a song
  15. rock — a stone
  16. track — a path
  17. snap — to click
  18. clip — a video
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. clip — to cut
  24. track — to keep track

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