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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
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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: bound · key · hide · branch · craft · can · patient · leaves

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. craft — a skill
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. bound — certain
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. can — a tin
  7. craft — boats
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. branch — a division
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. bound — tied together
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. bound — obliged
  18. key — for a lock
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. can — to be able to
  21. can — a tin
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. key — the most important part
  24. key — in music

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