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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
468
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: jam · dip · lie · land · object · bear · tube · kick

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. object — an aim
  3. bear — the animal
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. kick — a thrill
  10. object — to protest
  11. object — a thing
  12. land — to come down
  13. tube — the underground
  14. land — a country
  15. lie — to recline
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. bear — the animal
  20. tube — a container
  21. dip — to sink
  22. kick — in football
  23. land — ground
  24. bear — to put up with

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