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 hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. When are we going to ________________?
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  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. spring — of water
  2. present — the time now
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. can — to be able to
  5. land — a country
  6. key — the most important part
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. can — a tin
  9. key — in music
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. club — for dancing
  12. club — a group
  13. present — there
  14. land — to come down
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. spring — the season
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. can — a tin
  19. spring — a coil
  20. club — for golf
  21. present — a gift
  22. land — ground
  23. toast — bread
  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