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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: lean · file · pitcher · stand · can · bound · calf · wind

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. file — a document
  3. file — a tool
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bound — certain
  6. can — a tin
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. wind — to turn a key
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. stand — to bear
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. can — to be able to
  13. can — a tin
  14. wind — moving air
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. lean — thin
  18. file — a line of people
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bound — tied together
  22. wind — moving air
  23. lean — to bend
  24. stand — for spectators

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