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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. bulb — for light
  3. current — electric
  4. bat — in an idiom
  5. current — of water
  6. last — to go on
  7. bulb — for light
  8. fork — to eat with
  9. rash — a series
  10. last — final
  11. current — happening now
  12. scale — in music
  13. key — in music
  14. last — finally
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. bat — the animal
  17. rash — hasty
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. bat — for baseball
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. key — the most important part
  23. key — for a lock
  24. scale — size or range

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