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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. fine — all right
  5. charge — electricity
  6. charge — in control
  7. bat — for baseball
  8. pass — a permit
  9. pit — a hole
  10. club — for golf
  11. content — the amount
  12. fine — high quality
  13. club — for dancing
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. charge — a price
  17. pit — in a race
  18. content — videos and posts
  19. club — a group
  20. bat — the animal
  21. content — happy
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. pass — to succeed

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