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. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. present — there
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. saw — the tool
  6. fine — high quality
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. fine — all right
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. can — a tin
  11. present — a gift
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. can — a tin
  15. staff — employees
  16. present — the time now
  17. key — in music
  18. key — the most important part
  19. staff — employees
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. key — for a lock
  22. can — to be able to
  23. saw — the tool
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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