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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 120 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. kick — in football
  3. mate — to breed
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. staff — employees
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. plane — a tool
  8. mug — a face
  9. mate — a partner
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. mate — a friend
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. ground — a position
  15. mug — a cup
  16. ground — crushed
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. mine — for digging
  20. mug — to rob
  21. staff — employees
  22. ground — the earth
  23. staff — a stick
  24. kick — a thrill

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