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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 · jam · can · pit · stand · lie · game · bank

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. bound — tied together
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. pit — a hole
  5. bank — for money
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. game — a match
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. stand — to bear
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. game — wild animals
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — a tin
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. bank — of a river
  18. bound — obliged
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bank — for money
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. pit — in a race
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. bound — certain

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