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: wave · cabinet · ball · bay · court · nail · charge · staff

  1. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. ball — a dance
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. court — for sport
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. staff — a stick
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. court — of law
  12. ball — a great time
  13. staff — employees
  14. wave — a sudden rise
  15. charge — a price
  16. staff — employees
  17. court — of a king
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. charge — in control
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. charge — electricity
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. cabinet — ministers

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