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. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. bore — to drill
  4. hand — help
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. hand — in cards
  7. cue — for pool
  8. current — of water
  9. cue — a signal
  10. scale — in music
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. key — in music
  13. current — happening now
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. cue — a hint
  19. current — electric
  20. mark — a grade
  21. key — for a lock
  22. scale — size or range
  23. key — the most important part
  24. wave — with your hand

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