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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: kick · pop · jam · hide · key · foot · perch · dip

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. We're almost out of ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. perch — the fish
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. key — in music
  6. key — the most important part
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. pop — soda
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. dip — to sink
  13. kick — in football
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. pop — to visit
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. kick — with a leg
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. foot — a measure
  23. key — for a lock
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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