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 116 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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. swing — in golf
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. land — a country
  6. swing — music
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. land — ground
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. land — to come down
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. key — the most important part
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. key — for a lock
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. swing — to play on
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. rush — hurry
  23. wax — to grow
  24. racket — a loud noise

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