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 ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. key — for a lock
  3. present — there
  4. present — the time now
  5. board — to get on
  6. current — electric
  7. present — a gift
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. current — of water
  10. current — happening now
  11. saw — the tool
  12. capital — a city
  13. perch — the fish
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. key — in music
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. board — a committee
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. saw — the tool
  20. capital — money
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. key — the most important part
  23. capital — a big letter
  24. leaves — lets stay

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