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 · squash · key · chip · sharp · bay · court · mug

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. The ball is in your ________________.
  6. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. key — for a lock
  3. mug — a face
  4. sharp — clever
  5. court — for sport
  6. court — of law
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. key — the most important part
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. mug — to rob
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bore — to tire
  13. key — in music
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. chip — to eat
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. squash — the sport
  19. squash — to crush
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. court — of a king
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. bore — to drill

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