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 116 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: scale · spell · game · firm · key · season · fan · pop

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. spell — magic
  3. pop — to visit
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. scale — size or range
  6. game — wild animals
  7. pop — soda
  8. firm — a company
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. spell — a short time
  11. scale — in music
  12. season — in sport
  13. firm — steady
  14. spell — letters
  15. key — in music
  16. key — the most important part
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. pop — music
  19. firm — decided
  20. season — of the year
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. game — a match

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