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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 120 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 · net · sharp · bound · mug · mouse · ruler · charge

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. chip — for betting
  3. chip — to eat
  4. charge — in control
  5. net — in sport
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. net — after costs
  11. mug — to rob
  12. bound — obliged
  13. mug — a cup
  14. charge — electricity
  15. charge — a price
  16. mug — a face
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. bound — certain
  21. net — for catching
  22. bound — tied together
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. sharp — clever

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