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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: can · branch · current · bound · stand · suit · foot · file

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  22. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. can — to be able to
  4. suit — clothes
  5. file — a line of people
  6. current — electric
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. suit — to fit
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. can — a tin
  12. current — happening now
  13. foot — a measure
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. current — of water
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. suit — in cards
  18. file — a tool
  19. stand — to bear
  20. bound — certain
  21. branch — a division
  22. file — a document
  23. bound — obliged
  24. bound — tied together

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