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: wave · rash · key · capital · pitcher · foot · coach · board

  1. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Don't do anything ________________.
  12. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. key — the most important part
  4. board — a committee
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. foot — a measure
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. rash — hasty
  12. capital — a city
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. capital — money
  15. board — to get on
  16. key — in music
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. key — for a lock
  23. rash — a series
  24. coach — a trainer

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