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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: perch · calf · current · wax · bulb · root · firm · shower

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. perch — the fish
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. wax — to grow
  7. root — of a word
  8. shower — rain
  9. root — the cause
  10. current — of water
  11. bulb — for light
  12. root — of a plant
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. firm — steady
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. firm — decided
  18. firm — a company
  19. bulb — for light
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. current — electric
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. shower — to wash
  24. calf — a young animal

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