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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: lie · track · deal · nail · capital · saw · object · suit

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. capital — a city
  3. suit — clothes
  4. suit — in cards
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. capital — a big letter
  8. track — a path
  9. object — an aim
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. object — a thing
  12. saw — the tool
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. track — to keep track
  15. saw — the tool
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. suit — to fit
  19. lie — to recline
  20. track — a song
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. capital — money
  24. object — to protest

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