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 116 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: fork · pitch · mark · key · rest · bank · shower · hide

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. shower — rain
  4. key — in music
  5. bank — of a river
  6. rest — what's left
  7. bank — for money
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. bank — for money
  10. pitch — completely
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. rest — what's left
  17. key — the most important part
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. fork — in a road
  21. key — for a lock
  22. mark — a trace
  23. shower — to wash
  24. rest — a break

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