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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. key — the most important part
  5. hand — help
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. lean — to bend
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pass — a permit
  12. key — for a lock
  13. root — of a word
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. bulb — for light
  16. root — the cause
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. lean — thin
  19. bulb — for light
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. key — in music
  22. hand — in cards
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. root — of a plant

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