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: season · lie · key · sharp · mark · swing · wave · can

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. key — for a lock
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. lie — to recline
  6. key — the most important part
  7. swing — to play on
  8. swing — music
  9. can — to be able to
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. mark — a trace
  12. key — in music
  13. can — a tin
  14. mark — a grade
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. can — a tin
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. swing — in golf
  23. season — in sport
  24. sharp — clever

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