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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 · jam · roll · rest · net · bound · can · charge

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. charge — a price
  3. roll — a cake
  4. bound — certain
  5. net — for catching
  6. rest — a break
  7. bound — obliged
  8. charge — electricity
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. bound — tied together
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. net — after costs
  13. rest — what's left
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. can — a tin
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. roll — a list
  18. charge — in control
  19. chip — for betting
  20. rest — what's left
  21. can — to be able to
  22. can — a tin
  23. chip — to eat
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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