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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: bound · can · object · mark · calf · sharp · net · chip

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. mark — a trace
  3. net — for catching
  4. bound — obliged
  5. net — after costs
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. can — a tin
  8. object — an aim
  9. chip — for betting
  10. can — a tin
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. mark — a grade
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. sharp — clever
  16. bound — tied together
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. net — in sport
  19. object — to protest
  20. chip — to eat
  21. can — to be able to
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. object — a thing

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