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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: leaves · patient · temple · sharp · cap · club · craft · key

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. cap — a lid
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. cap — of ice
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. craft — boats
  8. key — the most important part
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. club — for golf
  11. key — in music
  12. cap — a hat
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. craft — a skill
  16. sharp — clever
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. club — for dancing
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. key — for a lock
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. sharp — exactly

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