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 kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. key — in music
  3. ball — a great time
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bulb — for light
  6. lean — thin
  7. ball — a dance
  8. tube — a container
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. lean — to bend
  12. firm — decided
  13. key — the most important part
  14. bulb — for light
  15. key — for a lock
  16. tube — the underground
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. firm — a company
  21. firm — steady
  22. squash — the sport
  23. squash — to crush
  24. sharp — clever

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