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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: saw · season · net · bear · can · bound · stand · track

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. track — a path
  3. bear — the animal
  4. bound — obliged
  5. can — a tin
  6. stand — to bear
  7. can — a tin
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. bound — tied together
  12. track — to keep track
  13. season — in sport
  14. net — after costs
  15. track — a song
  16. bear — the animal
  17. net — for catching
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. net — in sport
  20. saw — the tool
  21. season — of the year
  22. can — to be able to
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. bound — certain

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