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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. suit — to fit
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. saw — the tool
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. saw — the tool
  9. suit — clothes
  10. trunk — of a car
  11. key — the most important part
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. rush — hurry
  15. face — to point toward
  16. suit — in cards
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. face — to confront
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. foot — a measure
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. key — in music
  23. face — part of the head
  24. foot — part of the body

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