ClueBy
TodayArchiveWord list

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.

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
YesNo
↻ New worksheet

Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. squash — the sport
  3. key — for a lock
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. drill — a practice
  7. squash — to crush
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. net — for catching
  11. key — the most important part
  12. key — in music
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. net — in sport
  18. net — after costs
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. drill — the tool
  22. drill — army training
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. ruler — for measuring

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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