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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: stand · can · stock · bank · deal · spring · pitcher · pass

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. can — to be able to
  3. can — a tin
  4. bank — of a river
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. spring — of water
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. bank — for money
  11. pass — a permit
  12. deal — to handle
  13. spring — a coil
  14. stand — to bear
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. stock — shares
  17. stock — goods
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. spring — the season
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. can — a tin
  22. bank — for money
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. stand — on your feet

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