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: toast · key · patient · mate · fan · fine · cap · firm

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. fine — all right
  3. cap — a hat
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. cap — of ice
  6. firm — steady
  7. mate — to breed
  8. key — the most important part
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. mate — a friend
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. mate — a partner
  14. fine — high quality
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. firm — a company
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. key — for a lock
  21. cap — a lid
  22. toast — bread
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. firm — decided

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