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: shower · current · prune · pass · pound · ball · key · toast

  1. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. current — electric
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. key — the most important part
  6. current — of water
  7. shower — rain
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. pass — a permit
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. pound — a weight
  12. ball — a dance
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. current — happening now
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. prune — to trim
  18. prune — to trim
  19. key — in music
  20. ball — a great time
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. toast — bread
  23. key — for a lock
  24. shower — to wash

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