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: scale · spell · cabinet · ground · mug · coach · mark · key

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. mark — a grade
  5. key — the most important part
  6. spell — a short time
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. mark — a trace
  9. key — in music
  10. ground — a position
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. ground — the earth
  13. scale — in music
  14. spell — magic
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. ground — crushed
  17. mug — a cup
  18. key — for a lock
  19. spell — letters
  20. mug — a face
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. scale — size or range
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. mark — to pay attention

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