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 bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. key — the most important part
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. present — the time now
  5. bear — the animal
  6. suit — to fit
  7. ball — a great time
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. present — a gift
  10. bear — the animal
  11. ball — a dance
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. key — for a lock
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. wound — an injury
  16. key — in music
  17. band — a ring
  18. suit — in cards
  19. wound — an injury
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. band — a music group
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. present — there
  24. suit — clothes

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