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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: track · date · dip · kick · ruler · arm · racket · straw

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. track — a path
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. date — the fruit
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. kick — a thrill
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. track — to keep track
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. track — a song
  17. straw — to clutch at straws
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. kick — in football
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. ruler — for measuring

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