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 124 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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. scale — size or range
  3. bulb — of a plant
  4. file — a line of people
  5. scale — in music
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. current — happening now
  8. plane — a tool
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. file — a tool
  11. file — a document
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. roll — a list
  14. roll — a cake
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. current — of water
  17. bulb — for light
  18. key — for a lock
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. key — the most important part
  23. current — electric
  24. bulb — for light

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