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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: cap · date · arm · lean · jam · bulb · bore · deal

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. cap — of ice
  3. bore — to drill
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. cap — a hat
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bore — to tire
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. lean — to bend
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. deal — to handle
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. lean — thin
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. cap — a lid
  24. date — the fruit

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