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. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  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. arm — part of the body
  2. bank — of a river
  3. key — for a lock
  4. clip — for paper
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. clip — to cut
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. clip — a video
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. rash — a series
  11. bulb — for light
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. bank — for money
  14. suit — to fit
  15. key — the most important part
  16. fork — in a road
  17. rash — hasty
  18. key — in music
  19. bulb — for light
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. suit — clothes
  22. bank — for money
  23. suit — in cards
  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