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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: pound · can · bound · current · field · bank · stock · foot

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. can — a tin
  3. current — happening now
  4. stock — goods
  5. bound — tied together
  6. bound — certain
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. current — of water
  9. bank — for money
  10. stock — shares
  11. pound — to hit hard
  12. bound — obliged
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. field — a subject
  15. bank — for money
  16. field — for sport
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. foot — a measure
  19. can — a tin
  20. bank — of a river
  21. field — farmland
  22. current — electric
  23. can — to be able to
  24. pound — for dogs

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