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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: rest · perch · track · shower · can · hide · foot · bulb

  1. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. The light ________________ burned out.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — to wash
  2. rest — what's left
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. can — a tin
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. track — a path
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. foot — a measure
  11. rest — a break
  12. bulb — for light
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. perch — the fish
  15. can — to be able to
  16. can — a tin
  17. track — a song
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. track — to keep track
  21. shower — rain
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. rest — what's left
  24. bulb — for light

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