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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. pop — soda
  3. clip — to cut
  4. current — electric
  5. saw — the tool
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. saw — the tool
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. current — happening now
  15. key — for a lock
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. clip — a video
  18. current — of water
  19. key — in music
  20. plane — a tool
  21. pop — to visit
  22. clip — for paper
  23. key — the most important part
  24. leaves — lets stay

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