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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 120 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
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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: arm · march · season · mouse · key · lean · can · leaves

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. can — a tin
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. can — to be able to
  5. season — of the year
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. march — the month
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. key — the most important part
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. lean — to bend
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. lean — thin
  15. key — for a lock
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. march — music
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. can — a tin
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. march — the month
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. season — in sport

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