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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: lie · track · deal · bank · trunk · bulb · spell · lean

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. bulb — for light
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. lie — to recline
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. lean — to bend
  8. bulb — for light
  9. track — a path
  10. bank — for money
  11. lean — thin
  12. bank — of a river
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. deal — to handle
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. track — a song
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. spell — letters
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. spell — a short time
  21. bank — for money
  22. track — to keep track
  23. spell — magic
  24. deal — a big deal

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