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 116 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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  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. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. fork — in a road
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. suit — in cards
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. suit — to fit
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. hand — help
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. saw — the tool
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. season — in sport
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. hand — in cards
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. season — of the year
  22. saw — the tool
  23. bowl — to roll
  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