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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: sharp · can · chip · bound · fork · pitcher · mug · leaves

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. can — to be able to
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. chip — to eat
  6. mug — to rob
  7. chip — for betting
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bound — certain
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. fork — in a road
  13. can — a tin
  14. fork — a garden tool
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. mug — a face
  17. bound — tied together
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. mug — a cup
  21. can — a tin
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. sharp — clever
  24. leaves — lets stay

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