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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 120 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: firm · mine · lash · suit · land · bulb · deal · mark

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. mark — a grade
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. suit — clothes
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. firm — a company
  8. land — ground
  9. suit — in cards
  10. firm — steady
  11. bulb — for light
  12. deal — to handle
  13. land — to come down
  14. mark — a trace
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. suit — to fit
  17. land — a country
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. bulb — for light
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. firm — decided
  24. mine — for digging

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