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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: nail · squash · clip · suit · stock · face · track · rock

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. rock — a stone
  3. track — a path
  4. track — a song
  5. face — to point toward
  6. face — part of the head
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. stock — shares
  10. face — to confront
  11. clip — to cut
  12. suit — in cards
  13. stock — goods
  14. clip — for paper
  15. squash — the sport
  16. track — to keep track
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. suit — to fit
  20. suit — clothes
  21. squash — to crush
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. rock — 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