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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: chip · hide · object · mark · bound · stock · jam · present

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. chip — to eat
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. mark — a trace
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. object — a thing
  7. chip — for betting
  8. bound — tied together
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. bound — certain
  11. present — a gift
  12. object — to protest
  13. stock — shares
  14. stock — goods
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. present — the time now
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. object — an aim
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. mark — a grade
  24. present — there

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