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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 · content · board · bass · bound · bank · net · bear

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. content — the amount
  3. board — to get on
  4. bank — of a river
  5. bound — tied together
  6. content — happy
  7. stand — to bear
  8. board — a committee
  9. bound — certain
  10. net — for catching
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. bank — for money
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. net — in sport
  16. bound — obliged
  17. bear — the animal
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. bass — the fish
  20. net — after costs
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. bass — low music
  23. bank — for money
  24. board — a flat piece

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