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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: rush · dip · bay · mine · craft · track · kick · cue

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. kick — a thrill
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. cue — for pool
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. dip — to sink
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. craft — boats
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. cue — a hint
  13. craft — a skill
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. track — a path
  16. rush — hurry
  17. cue — a signal
  18. kick — with a leg
  19. track — a song
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. mine — for digging
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. track — to keep track
  24. mine — an explosive

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