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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The ball is in your ________________.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. key — the most important part
  5. court — of law
  6. lie — to recline
  7. key — for a lock
  8. hand — help
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. prune — to trim
  13. bass — the fish
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. current — happening now
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. bass — low music
  19. hand — in cards
  20. key — in music
  21. court — for sport
  22. court — of a king
  23. current — of water
  24. prune — to trim

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