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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: track · perch · current · rest · lie · row · hide · can

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. current — electric
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. lie — to recline
  5. track — a song
  6. rest — a break
  7. row — a line
  8. current — happening now
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. rest — what's left
  13. can — a tin
  14. track — to keep track
  15. perch — the fish
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. current — of water
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. rest — what's left
  21. track — a path
  22. row — to paddle
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. can — a tin

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