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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. bass — the instrument
  4. key — for a lock
  5. band — a ring
  6. key — the most important part
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. bass — the fish
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. band — a music group
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. mine — for digging
  19. bass — low music
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. tube — the underground
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. tube — a container

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