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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. court — of a king
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. rash — a series
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. key — in music
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. court — of law
  13. court — for sport
  14. key — the most important part
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. key — for a lock
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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