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: stick · hand · season · key · fall · leaves · safe · bulb

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. key — the most important part
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. fall — to drop
  5. bulb — for light
  6. key — in music
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. season — of the year
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. season — in sport
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. hand — in cards
  17. hand — help
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. fall — the season
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. bulb — for light
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. fall — to drop

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