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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: calf · bear · stand · pitch · sharp · bound · bank · fan

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. bound — obliged
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. bear — the animal
  5. stand — to bear
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. bound — tied together
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. bank — for money
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. bear — the animal
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. pitch — completely
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. sharp — clever
  20. bank — of a river
  21. bound — certain
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. bank — for money
  24. stand — on your feet

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