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 ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. mark — a trace
  4. tube — a container
  5. tube — the underground
  6. cap — a hat
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. cap — of ice
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. net — for catching
  13. toast — bread
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. ball — a great time
  16. season — in sport
  17. ball — a dance
  18. cap — a lid
  19. mark — a grade
  20. net — after costs
  21. season — of the year
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. fan — to cool the air

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