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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: mine · bound · season · stand · dip · bowl · can · rest

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. rest — what's left
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. season — of the year
  5. bound — certain
  6. rest — a break
  7. rest — what's left
  8. stand — to bear
  9. dip — to sink
  10. season — in sport
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. bound — obliged
  13. can — to be able to
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. mine — for digging
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. can — a tin
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. can — a tin
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. mine — an explosive
  24. bowl — a dish

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