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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: kick · track · rest · chip · mug · cabinet · mine · rock

  1. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — a thrill
  2. rest — what's left
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. mug — to rob
  6. chip — for betting
  7. track — a song
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. rest — what's left
  10. track — to keep track
  11. rock — a stone
  12. mine — for digging
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. track — a path
  16. rest — a break
  17. rock — music
  18. kick — in football
  19. chip — to eat
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. mug — a cup
  23. mug — a face
  24. kick — with a leg

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