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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.

Make a worksheet

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: hide · can · net · jam · root · bear · cabinet · perch

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  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. can — a tin
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. root — the cause
  7. bear — the animal
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. can — a tin
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bear — the animal
  12. net — in sport
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. net — after costs
  19. perch — the fish
  20. root — of a word
  21. can — to be able to
  22. net — for catching
  23. root — of a plant
  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