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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: roll · cabinet · bound · can · cell · wound · leaves · key

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bound — tied together
  3. roll — a cake
  4. wound — an injury
  5. key — the most important part
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. can — a tin
  8. bound — obliged
  9. can — to be able to
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. bound — certain
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. wound — an injury
  16. cell — in biology
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. key — for a lock
  19. cell — a phone
  20. roll — a list
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. can — a tin
  24. key — in 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