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 116 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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. net — after costs
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. object — a thing
  6. object — an aim
  7. track — a song
  8. key — in music
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. net — for catching
  11. wax — to grow
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bulb — for light
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. key — for a lock
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. object — to protest
  21. net — in sport
  22. bulb — for light
  23. track — a path
  24. track — to keep track

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