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: key · fork · snap · bulb · staff · pitcher · bear · squash

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. key — for a lock
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. fork — in a road
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. staff — a stick
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. squash — the sport
  10. bear — the animal
  11. squash — to crush
  12. key — in music
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. key — the most important part
  15. bear — the animal
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. bulb — for light
  21. fork — to eat with
  22. staff — employees
  23. bulb — for light
  24. snap — to click

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