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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: bear · stock · stand · net · bulb · pound · ball · arm

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. net — for catching
  3. pound — for dogs
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. net — in sport
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. bear — the animal
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bear — the animal
  11. stand — to bear
  12. stock — goods
  13. net — after costs
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. stock — shares
  20. pound — a weight
  21. bulb — for light
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. bulb — for light
  24. ball — a dance

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