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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: capital · rash · staff · net · face · can · rock · deal

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. can — a tin
  3. rash — hasty
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. face — to confront
  6. capital — money
  7. can — to be able to
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. capital — a city
  11. rash — a series
  12. deal — to handle
  13. net — in sport
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. capital — a big letter
  16. can — a tin
  17. net — for catching
  18. staff — employees
  19. staff — a stick
  20. face — part of the head
  21. staff — employees
  22. rock — music
  23. net — after costs
  24. face — to point toward

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