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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  22. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. mark — a trace
  3. kid — to tease
  4. ground — the earth
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. ground — a position
  8. spell — letters
  9. mark — a grade
  10. spell — a short time
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. ground — crushed
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. rush — hurry
  16. spell — magic
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. stick — to attach or keep to
  20. key — the most important part
  21. kid — child
  22. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  23. key — for a lock
  24. rock — music

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