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: key · band · ground · deal · drill · current · net · suit

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. ground — crushed
  3. current — of water
  4. drill — a practice
  5. suit — in cards
  6. net — for catching
  7. net — in sport
  8. current — happening now
  9. drill — army training
  10. current — electric
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. band — a music group
  13. suit — to fit
  14. key — in music
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. band — a ring
  17. suit — clothes
  18. ground — a position
  19. deal — to handle
  20. key — for a lock
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. net — after costs
  23. key — the most important part
  24. ground — the earth

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