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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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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: bear · present · suit · wax · perch · cap · foot · bulb

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. bulb — for light
  3. suit — clothes
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. present — the time now
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. cap — a lid
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. wax — to grow
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bear — the animal
  13. cap — a hat
  14. suit — to fit
  15. foot — a measure
  16. suit — in cards
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. present — a gift
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. present — there
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. perch — the fish

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