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: mark · spring · key · lean · chip · fan · mug · arm

  1. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  2. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — the season
  2. fan — to cool the air
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. lean — thin
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. spring — a coil
  7. mark — a grade
  8. chip — for betting
  9. spring — of water
  10. mark — a trace
  11. key — for a lock
  12. mug — to rob
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. chip — to eat
  16. key — in music
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. mug — a cup
  19. key — the most important part
  20. mug — a face
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. lean — to bend
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. arm — part of the body

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