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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: pass · pop · deal · net · stock · land · bear · can

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. When are we going to ________________?
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. What's the difference between broth and ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. land — ground
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. bear — the animal
  6. pop — soda
  7. stock — shares
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. pop — music
  11. land — a country
  12. bear — the animal
  13. land — to come down
  14. pop — to visit
  15. net — for catching
  16. can — a tin
  17. pass — a permit
  18. stock — goods
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. can — to be able to
  21. net — after costs
  22. net — in sport
  23. can — a tin
  24. stock — a soup base

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