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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. mug — a cup
  3. key — the most important part
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. mate — a friend
  6. suit — in cards
  7. key — in music
  8. mate — a partner
  9. bear — the animal
  10. mate — to breed
  11. bear — the animal
  12. field — a subject
  13. field — farmland
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. field — for sport
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. mug — to rob
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. mug — a face
  22. suit — to fit
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. key — for a lock

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