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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 116 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: dip · craft · mine · kid · mouse · nail · bulb · cue

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. craft — a handicraft
  3. cue — for pool
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mine — for digging
  6. cue — a signal
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. kid — child
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — for light
  14. dip — to sink
  15. craft — boats
  16. craft — a skill
  17. cue — a hint
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. kid — to tease
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. dip — to dunk

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