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: jam · key · game · swing · bear · land · bore · can

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. David sat on the ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. swing — to play on
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. key — in music
  5. can — a tin
  6. bear — the animal
  7. can — a tin
  8. game — a match
  9. land — ground
  10. swing — music
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. land — to come down
  13. swing — in golf
  14. bore — to tire
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. game — wild animals
  18. key — the most important part
  19. land — a country
  20. can — to be able to
  21. key — for a lock
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. bear — the animal
  24. jam — a tight spot

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