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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. foot — a measure
  3. bound — obliged
  4. fine — high quality
  5. staff — a stick
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. bound — certain
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. field — for sport
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. key — in music
  12. staff — employees
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. tube — a container
  16. field — a subject
  17. staff — employees
  18. key — for a lock
  19. field — farmland
  20. pass — a permit
  21. fine — all right
  22. tube — the underground
  23. bound — tied together
  24. key — the most important part

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