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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 · stand · content · saw · tube · arm · can · pound

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. stand — to bear
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. saw — the tool
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. can — a tin
  8. content — happy
  9. bound — tied together
  10. can — a tin
  11. saw — the tool
  12. tube — a container
  13. content — the amount
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. bound — certain
  16. pound — for dogs
  17. bound — obliged
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. tube — the underground
  23. can — to be able to
  24. arm — a part of something

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