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: vault · bass · key · nail · leaves · bear · scale · rush

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. scale — in music
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. vault — a safe
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. scale — size or range
  9. key — in music
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. bass — low music
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. rush — hurry
  17. bear — the animal
  18. bear — the animal
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. bass — the fish
  23. key — the most important part
  24. leaves — to go away

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