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: arm · coach · mate · drill · hide · staff · bound · key

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. staff — employees
  3. bound — tied together
  4. mate — a friend
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. key — in music
  7. mate — a partner
  8. bound — obliged
  9. drill — a practice
  10. bound — certain
  11. staff — a stick
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. drill — army training
  15. drill — the tool
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. key — for a lock
  18. key — the most important part
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. staff — employees
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. mate — to breed
  24. arm — part of the body

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