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: rash · vault · key · track · face · pitch · board · rest

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. track — a path
  3. pitch — completely
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. vault — a safe
  6. rest — what's left
  7. face — part of the head
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. board — to get on
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. rest — what's left
  12. rest — a break
  13. track — a song
  14. board — a committee
  15. track — to keep track
  16. key — the most important part
  17. rash — a series
  18. face — to point toward
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. key — in music
  22. rash — hasty
  23. face — to confront
  24. pitch — a sports field

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