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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: cue · bay · key · leaves · arm · capital · branch · patient

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Biology is a ________________ of science.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. key — for a lock
  3. cue — for pool
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. cue — a hint
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. patient — a sick person
  10. key — in music
  11. capital — a big letter
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. cue — a signal
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. key — the most important part
  19. capital — a city
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. capital — money
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. branch — a division

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