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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: net · stand · bound · file · fan · can · stock · bay

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. file — a document
  5. net — for catching
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. bound — certain
  8. stock — goods
  9. file — a tool
  10. net — in sport
  11. file — a line of people
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — a tin
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. stock — shares
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. can — to be able to
  21. bound — tied together
  22. stand — to bear
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. net — after costs

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