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: pass · key · hand · cold · band · season · lash · root

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  6. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. The water is too ________________.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. season — of the year
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. band — a ring
  5. band — a rubber band
  6. cold — the Cold War
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. key — the most important part
  9. root — of a plant
  10. root — the cause
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. band — a music group
  14. hand — in cards
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. key — for a lock
  17. cold — an illness
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. key — in music
  20. root — of a word
  21. cold — not warm
  22. hand — help
  23. season — in sport
  24. pass — a permit

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