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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  20. False peace will not ________________.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. chip — to eat
  4. pop — to visit
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. can — a tin
  7. chip — for betting
  8. trunk — of a car
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. last — final
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. pop — music
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. pop — soda
  15. rock — a stone
  16. can — a tin
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. can — to be able to
  19. last — finally
  20. last — to go on
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. rock — music
  24. bore — to tire

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