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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: stand · fan · bank · ground · deal · can · band · bay

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. stand — to bear
  3. deal — to handle
  4. band — a music group
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. can — a tin
  10. bank — of a river
  11. can — to be able to
  12. ground — the earth
  13. ground — a position
  14. band — a ring
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. deal — a big deal
  19. ground — crushed
  20. bank — for money
  21. can — a tin
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. bank — for money

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