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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: land · bulb · leaves · deal · shower · stand · suit · scale

  1. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  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. shower — rain
  2. land — to come down
  3. stand — to bear
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. shower — to wash
  6. land — ground
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. deal — to handle
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. land — a country
  12. suit — in cards
  13. scale — size or range
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. bulb — for light
  17. suit — to fit
  18. scale — in music
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. suit — clothes
  23. bulb — for light
  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