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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. fine — high quality
  4. content — happy
  5. pop — to visit
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. mark — a grade
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. deal — to handle
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. pop — soda
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. mark — a trace
  18. content — the amount
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. wake — a trail
  23. fine — all right
  24. pop — music

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