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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.

Make a worksheet

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: track · can · wake · craft · patient · lash · present · key

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. key — for a lock
  4. present — a gift
  5. craft — a skill
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. can — a tin
  8. present — the time now
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. present — there
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. track — a song
  13. key — the most important part
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. can — to be able to
  18. craft — boats
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. can — a tin
  21. track — a path
  22. key — in music
  23. track — to keep track
  24. craft — a handicraft

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