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: rest · rush · key · bound · lean · cabinet · pitch · bear

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. bear — the animal
  3. key — in music
  4. lean — to bend
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. bear — the animal
  8. lean — thin
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. rest — what's left
  11. rush — hurry
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. rest — what's left
  14. bound — obliged
  15. bound — certain
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. bound — tied together
  18. key — for a lock
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. rest — a break
  24. pitch — completely

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