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 116 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: season · craft · pop · drill · fan · rush · key · mug

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. pop — music
  3. key — the most important part
  4. drill — the tool
  5. pop — to visit
  6. drill — army training
  7. pop — soda
  8. mug — to rob
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. key — in music
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. season — in sport
  14. key — for a lock
  15. drill — a practice
  16. mug — a face
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. craft — a skill
  19. rush — hurry
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. mug — a cup
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. season — of the year
  24. craft — boats

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