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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: bound · can · bulb · branch · chest · stand · object · spell

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. I've got to change the light ________________.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. spell — magic
  3. chest — a box
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. can — a tin
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bound — tied together
  8. chest — of your body
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bulb — for light
  12. object — an aim
  13. bound — certain
  14. branch — a division
  15. bound — obliged
  16. object — a thing
  17. spell — a short time
  18. chest — of your body
  19. spell — letters
  20. stand — to bear
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. can — to be able to
  23. object — to protest
  24. can — a tin

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