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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
Word bank
YesNo
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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 · racket · bank · hide · fan · can · wax

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bank — of a river
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. bank — for money
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. wax — to grow
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. bank — for money
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. perch — the fish
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. can — a tin
  23. can — a tin
  24. perch — for a bird

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