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: saw · nail · charge · straw · squash · mouse · bay · key

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. charge — a price
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. charge — in control
  7. charge — electricity
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. saw — the tool
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. squash — to crush
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. key — the most important part
  19. key — in music
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. key — for a lock
  23. saw — the tool
  24. squash — the sport

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