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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: pitcher · can · toast · hide · fall · rule · bound · stand

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. bound — certain
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. rule — government
  7. bound — obliged
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. fall — the season
  10. stand — to bear
  11. fall — to drop
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. can — to be able to
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bound — tied together
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. can — a tin
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. fall — to drop
  21. toast — bread
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. hide — to keep secret
  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