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: snap · ground · bulb · key · season · wake · fine · saw

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. season — of the year
  3. ground — the earth
  4. key — for a lock
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. snap — to click
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. key — the most important part
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. fine — high quality
  12. season — in sport
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. saw — the tool
  16. wake — a trail
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bulb — for light
  19. saw — the tool
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. ground — crushed
  22. fine — all right
  23. key — in music
  24. wake — before a funeral

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