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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for dancing
  2. drill — the tool
  3. drill — army training
  4. perch — the fish
  5. shower — rain
  6. key — the most important part
  7. cue — a signal
  8. rest — what's left
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. cue — for pool
  11. club — for golf
  12. drill — a practice
  13. key — for a lock
  14. key — in music
  15. toast — bread
  16. rest — a break
  17. rest — what's left
  18. shower — to wash
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. cue — a hint
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. club — a group

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