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 kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. kick — with a leg
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. key — in music
  6. rock — a stone
  7. net — in sport
  8. net — after costs
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. vault — a safe
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. kick — in football
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. scale — in music
  17. pound — a weight
  18. key — for a lock
  19. rock — music
  20. net — for catching
  21. roll — a list
  22. key — the most important part
  23. scale — size or range
  24. roll — a cake

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