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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
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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: hide · cap · track · foot · coach · bulb · wax · rest

  1. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. track — a song
  5. bulb — for light
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. cap — a lid
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. rest — what's left
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. track — a path
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. rest — a break
  14. wax — to grow
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. cap — of ice
  17. track — to keep track
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. foot — a measure
  22. cap — a hat
  23. rest — what's left
  24. hide — to keep secret

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