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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
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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: foot · can · wake · rock · rest · perch · pit · plane

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. can — a tin
  3. rest — what's left
  4. pit — in a race
  5. rest — what's left
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. rock — a stone
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. perch — the fish
  11. foot — a measure
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. can — a tin
  15. rest — a break
  16. rock — music
  17. pit — a hole
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. wake — a trail
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. plane — a tool
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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