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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. rest — a break
  3. key — for a lock
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. cue — a hint
  6. cue — for pool
  7. rest — what's left
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. key — the most important part
  10. key — in music
  11. roll — a cake
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. roll — a list
  18. rest — what's left
  19. cue — a signal
  20. wave — with your hand
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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