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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. chip — for betting
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. key — the most important part
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. bat — in an idiom
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. board — a committee
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. chip — to eat
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. bat — the animal
  21. date — the fruit
  22. bat — for baseball
  23. board — to get on
  24. key — for a lock

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