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: toast · fine · straw · suit · game · chip · key · fall

  1. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. That was a fun ________________.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. game — wild animals
  3. suit — clothes
  4. fall — to drop
  5. key — in music
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. key — for a lock
  9. fall — the season
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. fine — high quality
  12. key — the most important part
  13. fall — to drop
  14. suit — to fit
  15. suit — in cards
  16. chip — to eat
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. fine — all right
  19. game — a match
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. toast — bread
  24. chip — for betting

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