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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: lie · bank · last · hide · wax · root · foot · perch

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. root — of a word
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. root — of a plant
  6. bank — for money
  7. wax — to grow
  8. last — finally
  9. bank — of a river
  10. lie — to recline
  11. last — to go on
  12. perch — the fish
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. bank — for money
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. last — final
  17. foot — a measure
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. root — the cause

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