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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: perch · calf · safe · foot · track · date · pop · staff

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. foot — a measure
  5. pop — music
  6. pop — soda
  7. pop — to visit
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. track — a path
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. staff — a stick
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. track — to keep track
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. staff — employees
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. staff — employees
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. track — a song
  24. date — the fruit

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