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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: dip · can · mark · mug · board · net · kick · track

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. mug — a cup
  4. can — a tin
  5. mug — to rob
  6. board — to get on
  7. kick — with a leg
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. mug — a face
  10. net — in sport
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. mark — a trace
  13. mark — a grade
  14. dip — to sink
  15. net — for catching
  16. net — after costs
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. track — a path
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. board — a committee
  21. track — to keep track
  22. can — to be able to
  23. track — a song
  24. kick — in football

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