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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: perch · toast · foot · can · mark · hide · chip · wax

  1. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — to keep secret
  2. mark — a grade
  3. wax — to grow
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. perch — the fish
  7. chip — for betting
  8. can — a tin
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. toast — bread
  12. can — a tin
  13. mark — a trace
  14. chip — to eat
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. can — to be able to
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. foot — a measure

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