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: arm · key · rock · rest · charge · suit · ground · mark

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. charge — a price
  3. key — for a lock
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. ground — a position
  6. rock — music
  7. key — in music
  8. ground — crushed
  9. rest — a break
  10. suit — to fit
  11. mark — a grade
  12. charge — in control
  13. key — the most important part
  14. charge — electricity
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. mark — a trace
  17. ground — the earth
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. suit — in cards
  22. rock — a stone
  23. rest — what's left
  24. suit — clothes

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