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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: pop · hide · perch · deal · object · rash · face · can

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. pop — music
  3. face — to confront
  4. deal — to handle
  5. rash — a series
  6. face — to point toward
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. perch — the fish
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. can — to be able to
  12. can — a tin
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. pop — to visit
  15. pop — soda
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. object — an aim
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. object — a thing
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. can — a tin
  22. object — to protest
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. rash — hasty

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