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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: rash · pitcher · cabinet · kick · nail · club · toast · dip

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. dip — to sink
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. toast — bread
  9. rash — hasty
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. club — for dancing
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. club — for golf
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. club — a group
  19. rash — a series
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. kick — with a leg
  24. nail — for a hammer

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