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 120 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 · key · current · wound · drill · wake · rock · foot

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. foot — a measure
  3. key — for a lock
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. current — of water
  6. current — happening now
  7. current — electric
  8. drill — a practice
  9. scale — size or range
  10. drill — army training
  11. scale — in music
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. wound — an injury
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. key — the most important part
  16. rock — music
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. drill — the tool
  21. wake — a trail
  22. wound — past of 'wind'
  23. key — in music
  24. wound — an injury

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