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: can · bowl · tube · bulb · staff · season · key · foot

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. bulb — for light
  4. season — of the year
  5. key — in music
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. staff — employees
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. key — for a lock
  10. can — to be able to
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. key — the most important part
  13. staff — a stick
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. tube — the underground
  16. tube — a container
  17. can — a tin
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. can — a tin
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. bulb — for light
  23. season — in sport
  24. foot — a measure

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