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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.

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: perch · hide · coach · press · track · can · safe · foot

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. can — a tin
  3. foot — a measure
  4. track — a song
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. press — to push
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. press — newspapers
  9. track — a path
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. track — to keep track
  12. can — a tin
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. can — to be able to
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. perch — the fish
  22. press — a publisher
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. hide — animal skin

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