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

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  9. False peace will not ________________.
  10. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  19. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. charge — electricity
  4. bank — for money
  5. staff — employees
  6. bank — of a river
  7. charge — in control
  8. capital — a big letter
  9. last — to go on
  10. capital — a city
  11. can — to be able to
  12. bank — for money
  13. can — a tin
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. staff — a stick
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. charge — a price
  18. vault — in gymnastics
  19. capital — money
  20. vault — a safe
  21. can — a tin
  22. last — finally
  23. staff — employees
  24. last — final

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