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. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — music
  2. mate — a friend
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. key — in music
  5. mate — to breed
  6. pop — to visit
  7. pop — soda
  8. bulb — for light
  9. firm — decided
  10. bulb — for light
  11. firm — a company
  12. key — the most important part
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. mate — a partner
  15. firm — steady
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. key — for a lock
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pop — music
  21. saw — the tool
  22. rock — a stone
  23. saw — the tool
  24. bulb — of a plant

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