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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: mug · kick · rock · current · fine · patient · lean · snap

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. mug — to rob
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. fine — high quality
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. lean — to bend
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. rock — a stone
  10. mug — a cup
  11. current — electric
  12. fine — all right
  13. mug — a face
  14. current — of water
  15. rock — music
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. current — happening now
  19. lean — thin
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. kick — in football
  22. snap — to click
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. lean — to rest against

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