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 116 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: fine · bound · pit · march · pitcher · wave · key · current

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. pit — in a race
  6. wave — of the sea
  7. key — in music
  8. bound — certain
  9. march — the month
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. bound — obliged
  12. key — for a lock
  13. key — the most important part
  14. march — music
  15. bound — tied together
  16. current — happening now
  17. march — the month
  18. pit — a hole
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. fine — high quality
  21. current — of water
  22. current — electric
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. fine — all right

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