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: key · dip · bowl · arm · bear · row · ball · roll

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. key — the most important part
  3. row — a line
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. ball — a dance
  6. key — in music
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. dip — to sink
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. row — to paddle
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. roll — a list
  21. bear — the animal
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. key — for a lock
  24. ball — a great time

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