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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 116 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: saw · nail · deal · capital · net · staff · lash · suit

  1. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. staff — a stick
  3. net — after costs
  4. deal — to handle
  5. net — for catching
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. net — in sport
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. suit — to fit
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. staff — employees
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. capital — a city
  14. saw — the tool
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. lash — a whip stroke
  18. saw — the tool
  19. suit — clothes
  20. staff — employees
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. capital — a big letter
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. suit — in cards

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