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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: fork · mate · net · bound · current · stem · roll · chip

  1. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. bound — certain
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. chip — for betting
  5. fork — in a road
  6. mate — a friend
  7. mate — to breed
  8. current — of water
  9. bound — obliged
  10. bound — tied together
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. net — for catching
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. roll — a list
  15. net — after costs
  16. roll — a cake
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. mate — a partner
  19. current — electric
  20. chip — to eat
  21. net — in sport
  22. stem — to come from
  23. current — happening now
  24. fork — to eat with

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