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: mouse · net · rush · dip · key · cap · toast · foot

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. cap — a hat
  6. key — in music
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. rush — hurry
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. net — in sport
  14. dip — to sink
  15. toast — bread
  16. key — the most important part
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. net — after costs
  19. cap — of ice
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. net — for catching
  22. foot — a measure
  23. cap — a lid
  24. dip — to dunk

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