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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: capital · temple · bowl · net · band · can · mark · staff

  1. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. capital — a big letter
  2. mark — a trace
  3. can — to be able to
  4. capital — a city
  5. staff — employees
  6. net — in sport
  7. mark — a grade
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. net — after costs
  10. can — a tin
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. staff — a stick
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. net — for catching
  17. capital — money
  18. staff — employees
  19. band — a music group
  20. band — a ring
  21. can — a tin
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. temple — a place of worship

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