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 116 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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. key — the most important part
  3. rule — government
  4. key — in music
  5. pound — a weight
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. rule — to rule out
  9. saw — the tool
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — to be able to
  12. mark — a grade
  13. rush — hurry
  14. can — a tin
  15. mark — a trace
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. saw — the tool
  19. key — for a lock
  20. ball — a dance
  21. rule — a law
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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