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 120 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: dip · spell · bulb · key · rush · ground · saw · lie

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. There's no middle ________________.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. bulb — for light
  3. lie — to recline
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. spell — a short time
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. key — in music
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. key — the most important part
  11. spell — letters
  12. ground — crushed
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. ground — a position
  15. bulb — for light
  16. spell — magic
  17. saw — the tool
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. dip — to sink
  20. saw — the tool
  21. rush — hurry
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. key — for a lock
  24. dip — to dunk

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