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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. cue — a hint
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. key — the most important part
  8. stock — shares
  9. cue — a signal
  10. key — for a lock
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. sharp — clever
  19. stock — goods
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. cue — for pool
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. bulb — 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