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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.

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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: chip · lash · wave · kick · craft · rush · mouse · safe

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. rush — hurry
  3. kick — a thrill
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. craft — a skill
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. craft — boats
  13. wave — a sudden rise
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. chip — to eat
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. chip — for betting
  21. kick — in football
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. lash — to lash out

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