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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: lie · dip · prune · bulb · root · tube · bear · cue

  1. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. root — the cause
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. cue — a signal
  6. root — of a plant
  7. bulb — for light
  8. root — of a word
  9. prune — to trim
  10. prune — to trim
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. cue — for pool
  13. cue — a hint
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. bulb — for light
  16. tube — the underground
  17. bear — the animal
  18. lie — to recline
  19. bear — the animal
  20. tube — a container
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. dip — to sink
  24. tube — in a tire

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