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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 · bulb · firm · rock · toast · can · rush · cap

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. rock — a stone
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. firm — steady
  6. cap — a lid
  7. rock — music
  8. can — a tin
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. cap — a hat
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. bulb — for light
  16. firm — decided
  17. bulb — for light
  18. perch — the fish
  19. rush — hurry
  20. firm — a company
  21. cap — of ice
  22. can — to be able to
  23. toast — bread
  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