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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.

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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: craft · wound · perch · ruler · leaves · key · cap · suit

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. craft — boats
  4. craft — a handicraft
  5. cap — a hat
  6. wound — an injury
  7. suit — clothes
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. perch — the fish
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. key — for a lock
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. suit — to fit
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. key — the most important part
  17. suit — in cards
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. cap — of ice
  20. craft — a skill
  21. wound — an injury
  22. key — in music
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. ruler — for measuring

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