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: face · bulb · season · straw · key · vault · arm · can

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. face — to confront
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. key — the most important part
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. bulb — for light
  7. straw — to clutch at straws
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. season — of the year
  11. can — to be able to
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. face — to point toward
  14. bulb — for light
  15. straw — a straw man
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. key — in music
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. key — for a lock
  21. face — part of the head
  22. vault — a safe
  23. can — a tin
  24. can — a tin

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