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 120 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: board · key · cue · net · bear · bound · fine · march

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bound — tied together
  4. net — after costs
  5. board — to get on
  6. net — in sport
  7. bear — the animal
  8. net — for catching
  9. cue — a hint
  10. cue — for pool
  11. cue — a signal
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. march — the month
  14. board — a committee
  15. march — music
  16. key — in music
  17. bound — certain
  18. march — the month
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. key — the most important part
  21. bound — obliged
  22. fine — all right
  23. fine — high quality
  24. board — a flat piece

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