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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 · object · stand · can · track · pit · stock · wave

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. bound — obliged
  3. can — to be able to
  4. pit — a hole
  5. stand — to bear
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. pit — in a race
  8. can — a tin
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. object — to protest
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. object — a thing
  14. bound — certain
  15. stock — shares
  16. can — a tin
  17. bound — tied together
  18. object — an aim
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. track — to keep track
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. track — a song
  23. stock — goods
  24. track — a path

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