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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. net — after costs
  3. suit — in cards
  4. can — a tin
  5. net — in sport
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. net — for catching
  8. bound — tied together
  9. suit — to fit
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bound — certain
  14. chip — for betting
  15. can — to be able to
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bass — low music
  18. bound — obliged
  19. can — a tin
  20. bank — for money
  21. bass — the fish
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. suit — clothes
  24. bank — for money

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