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. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. board — to get on
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. pit — in a race
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. pit — a hole
  7. hand — help
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. key — in music
  10. bore — to drill
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. key — for a lock
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. saw — the tool
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. saw — the tool
  18. key — the most important part
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. bore — to tire
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. hand — in cards
  24. hand — part of the body

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