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 · bass · ball · bound · charge · rush · spell · lean

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. lean — thin
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a dance
  5. charge — in control
  6. spell — letters
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. bound — certain
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. charge — a price
  11. bass — low music
  12. key — the most important part
  13. bass — the fish
  14. charge — electricity
  15. spell — a short time
  16. key — in music
  17. key — for a lock
  18. rush — hurry
  19. lean — to bend
  20. bound — obliged
  21. spell — magic
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. rush — to hurry

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