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. I've got to change the light ________________.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. rush — hurry
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. bulb — for light
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. track — a song
  7. track — to keep track
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. can — a tin
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. can — a tin
  12. track — a path
  13. key — in music
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. key — for a lock
  16. object — a thing
  17. can — to be able to
  18. object — to protest
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. object — an aim
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. key — the most important part
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. chair — a leader

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