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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: stand · bulb · date · root · mark · deal · lie · chip

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. deal — to handle
  5. stand — to bear
  6. date — the fruit
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. mark — a trace
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. root — of a word
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. bulb — for light
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. lie — to recline
  16. mark — a grade
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. root — the cause
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. chip — to eat
  21. bulb — for light
  22. chip — for betting
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. root — of a plant

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