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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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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: root · lie · deal · row · bank · file · pound · bulb

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. bulb — for light
  3. root — of a word
  4. file — a line of people
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. file — a document
  7. bank — for money
  8. root — the cause
  9. pound — a weight
  10. root — of a plant
  11. bank — of a river
  12. pound — for dogs
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. deal — to handle
  16. row — to paddle
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. lie — to recline
  20. file — a tool
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bank — for money
  23. row — a line
  24. lie — an untruth

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