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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mouse · firm · mate · dip · pitcher · safe · kick · can

  1. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. kick — a thrill
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. firm — steady
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. kick — in football
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. mate — a partner
  8. dip — to sink
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. can — a tin
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. firm — a company
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. can — a tin
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mate — a friend
  17. firm — decided
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. can — to be able to
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. mate — to breed
  24. safe — out of danger

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