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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: snap · kick · tube · ball · mug · safe · toast · hand

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. I got dealt a bad ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. kick — in football
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. toast — bread
  7. hand — help
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. tube — the underground
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. mug — a cup
  13. ball — a dance
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. tube — a container
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. ball — a great time
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. mug — a face
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. snap — to click
  24. hand — in cards

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