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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 120 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: fine · pitcher · ground · bound · craft · stand · can · pop

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. stand — to bear
  4. craft — boats
  5. bound — tied together
  6. bound — obliged
  7. fine — all right
  8. craft — a skill
  9. pop — music
  10. ground — the earth
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pop — soda
  13. ground — crushed
  14. can — a tin
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. fine — high quality
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. ground — a position
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. can — to be able to
  23. pop — to visit
  24. can — a tin

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