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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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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: track · chip · staff · calf · bound · charge · bore · net

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. charge — in control
  3. charge — a price
  4. net — after costs
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. bore — to drill
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. charge — electricity
  9. chip — for betting
  10. net — in sport
  11. track — a path
  12. chip — to eat
  13. net — for catching
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. track — to keep track
  16. bound — certain
  17. staff — employees
  18. bound — obliged
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. track — a song
  21. staff — a stick
  22. bound — tied together
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. staff — employees

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