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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  5. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. dip — to sink
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. degree — from a university
  5. degree — temperature
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. march — music
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. key — the most important part
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. degree — an amount
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. march — the month
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. rash — a series
  20. key — in music
  21. deal — to handle
  22. march — the month
  23. rash — hasty
  24. key — for a lock

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