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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. file — a tool
  6. wind — moving air
  7. deal — to handle
  8. key — the most important part
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. key — for a lock
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mark — a grade
  13. file — a line of people
  14. rash — a series
  15. date — the fruit
  16. mark — a trace
  17. key — in music
  18. rash — hasty
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. toast — bread
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. wind — moving air
  23. wind — to turn a key
  24. rash — on the skin

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