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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: bulb · deal · date · lean · scale · mark · mine · suit

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. mark — a trace
  4. mark — a grade
  5. lean — thin
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. lean — to bend
  8. suit — to fit
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. mine — for digging
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. mine — an explosive
  14. bulb — for light
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. suit — clothes
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. deal — to handle
  19. bulb — for light
  20. scale — size or range
  21. date — the fruit
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. suit — in cards
  24. scale — in music

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