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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  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. nail — for a hammer
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. bulb — for light
  4. spring — of water
  5. mark — a grade
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. bulb — for light
  9. ball — a dance
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. mark — a trace
  16. spring — the season
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. key — in music
  19. spring — a coil
  20. bark — to shout
  21. ball — a great time
  22. key — for a lock
  23. nail — for a hammer
  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