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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. key — in music
  3. march — the month
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. key — the most important part
  6. suit — to fit
  7. wake — a trail
  8. face — part of the head
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. saw — the tool
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. suit — clothes
  13. spell — letters
  14. key — for a lock
  15. march — the month
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. spell — a short time
  18. spell — magic
  19. suit — in cards
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. face — to confront
  22. march — music
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. saw — the tool

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