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. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. Did you ________________ the button?
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for golf
  2. club — a group
  3. vault — a safe
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. press — newspapers
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. key — the most important part
  9. club — for dancing
  10. press — to push
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. key — for a lock
  14. key — in music
  15. press — a publisher
  16. rock — music
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. roll — a list
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. rock — a stone
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. roll — a cake
  24. date — the fruit

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