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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. key — the most important part
  4. stem — a stem cell
  5. staff — employees
  6. saw — the tool
  7. trunk — of an elephant
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. key — for a lock
  11. squash — the sport
  12. stem — of a plant
  13. saw — the tool
  14. squash — to crush
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. key — in music
  17. staff — employees
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. pit — a hole
  21. staff — a stick
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. stem — to come from
  24. trunk — of a tree

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