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. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. rock — music
  3. object — a thing
  4. dip — to sink
  5. saw — the tool
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. season — of the year
  11. key — for a lock
  12. key — in music
  13. rock — a stone
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. object — to protest
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. key — the most important part
  20. season — in sport
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. saw — the tool

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