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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: arm · bound · staff · stick · firm · pitcher · can · press

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Did you ________________ the button?
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. firm — steady
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. can — a tin
  6. staff — a stick
  7. press — newspapers
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. press — a publisher
  10. bound — certain
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. can — to be able to
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. bound — obliged
  15. can — a tin
  16. bound — tied together
  17. press — to push
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. staff — employees
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. firm — decided
  23. firm — a company
  24. staff — employees

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