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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: mark · stand · roll · row · deal · hand · bulb · root

  1. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a word
  2. root — of a plant
  3. hand — help
  4. root — the cause
  5. hand — in cards
  6. roll — a list
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. deal — to handle
  10. bulb — for light
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. row — to paddle
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. row — a line
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. bulb — for light
  17. roll — a cake
  18. mark — a trace
  19. stand — to bear
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. mark — a grade
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. stand — on your feet

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