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: bore · mate · key · firm · bear · date · wake · hand

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. date — the fruit
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. firm — steady
  5. mate — a friend
  6. mate — to breed
  7. firm — decided
  8. hand — help
  9. mate — a partner
  10. key — in music
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. bore — to tire
  16. key — the most important part
  17. bore — to drill
  18. wake — a trail
  19. bear — the animal
  20. key — for a lock
  21. hand — in cards
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. firm — a company

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