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 120 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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. key — the most important part
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. bound — obliged
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. row — to paddle
  8. pit — in a race
  9. row — a line
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. board — to get on
  12. pit — a hole
  13. key — in music
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. bound — certain
  16. key — for a lock
  17. root — the cause
  18. bound — tied together
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. root — of a plant
  21. pass — a permit
  22. board — a committee
  23. root — of a word
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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