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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 120 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: bulb · pop · leaves · stand · stem · deal · mine · stock

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. bulb — for light
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. pop — soda
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. bulb — for light
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. pop — to visit
  12. stock — goods
  13. stock — shares
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. stand — to bear
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. pop — music
  23. stem — to come from
  24. mine — for digging

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