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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: toast · mark · net · file · capital · can · wave · lean

  1. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  9. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — a big letter
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. can — a tin
  6. file — a line of people
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. capital — a city
  9. file — a document
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. lean — to bend
  12. net — in sport
  13. capital — money
  14. can — to be able to
  15. toast — bread
  16. net — for catching
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. lean — thin
  19. mark — a grade
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. file — a tool
  22. net — after costs
  23. mark — a trace
  24. can — a tin

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