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: game · row · firm · key · current · bass · pitch · mouse

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. game — a match
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. current — electric
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. row — to paddle
  8. bass — the instrument
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. bass — the fish
  11. firm — decided
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. key — the most important part
  14. bass — low music
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. row — a line
  17. pitch — completely
  18. game — wild animals
  19. firm — steady
  20. key — for a lock
  21. firm — a company
  22. current — happening now
  23. current — of water
  24. mouse — the animal

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