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 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
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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. rest — a break
  3. current — happening now
  4. rest — what's left
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. dip — to sink
  7. key — in music
  8. mug — a cup
  9. rash — hasty
  10. mug — to rob
  11. current — electric
  12. spell — a short time
  13. spell — letters
  14. rest — what's left
  15. key — for a lock
  16. mug — a face
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. current — of water
  20. key — the most important part
  21. rash — a series
  22. spell — magic
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. rash — on the skin

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