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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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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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. staff — employees
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. fall — to drop
  6. kick — in football
  7. fall — the season
  8. rock — a stone
  9. mark — a grade
  10. staff — a stick
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. rock — music
  16. fall — to drop
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. fork — in a road
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. staff — employees
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. dip — to sink
  23. mark — a trace
  24. dip — to dunk

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