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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: calf · chip · bound · bark · nail · pop · safe · fork

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. chip — to eat
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bound — tied together
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. bound — certain
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. bark — to shout
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. pop — music
  18. fork — in a road
  19. pop — to visit
  20. pop — soda
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. chip — for betting

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