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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. tube — a container
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. suit — in cards
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. drill — the tool
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. can — a tin
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. drill — army training
  14. tube — the underground
  15. suit — clothes
  16. can — a tin
  17. suit — to fit
  18. cue — a signal
  19. cue — a hint
  20. dip — to sink
  21. cue — for pool
  22. sharp — clever
  23. can — to be able to
  24. drill — a practice

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