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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: stick · stand · leaves · bank · can · bass · hand · stock

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. bass — low music
  4. bank — for money
  5. stand — to bear
  6. hand — in cards
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. bank — for money
  12. bank — of a river
  13. bass — the fish
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. can — a tin
  16. stock — shares
  17. hand — help
  18. can — to be able to
  19. stock — goods
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. can — a tin

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