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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. charge — a price
  4. key — for a lock
  5. wound — an injury
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. dip — to sink
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. court — for sport
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. wound — an injury
  16. key — the most important part
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. charge — electricity
  19. key — in music
  20. court — of law
  21. charge — in control
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. court — of a king

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