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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. game — a match
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. ground — the earth
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. season — of the year
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. deal — to handle
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. craft — a handicraft
  13. ground — a position
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. season — in sport
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. ground — crushed
  19. craft — a skill
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. craft — boats
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. game — wild animals
  24. fan — a supporter

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