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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 116 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: dip · pitcher · bulb · mine · root · firm · bear · mark

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — the animal
  6. bulb — for light
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. mark — a grade
  10. root — the cause
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mine — for digging
  15. root — of a plant
  16. bulb — for light
  17. dip — to sink
  18. firm — decided
  19. firm — a company
  20. mark — a trace
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. firm — steady
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. root — of a word

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