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: rash · clip · key · rush · pitcher · can · rule · suit

  1. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. key — for a lock
  3. can — to be able to
  4. rash — a series
  5. key — the most important part
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. rash — hasty
  8. suit — in cards
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. can — a tin
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. suit — to fit
  14. can — a tin
  15. clip — for paper
  16. suit — clothes
  17. rush — hurry
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. key — in music
  20. rule — government
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rule — a law
  23. clip — to cut
  24. rush — a thrill

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