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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. firm — decided
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. roll — a list
  6. season — of the year
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. rush — hurry
  9. roll — a cake
  10. ball — a dance
  11. key — the most important part
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. vault — a safe
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. key — for a lock
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. firm — steady
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. firm — a company
  21. season — in sport
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. ball — a great time
  24. key — in music

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