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 120 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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. saw — the tool
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. chip — for betting
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. saw — the tool
  9. can — a tin
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. field — for sport
  13. board — to get on
  14. spell — a short time
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. board — a committee
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. chip — to eat
  19. spell — letters
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. can — to be able to
  22. field — farmland
  23. spell — magic
  24. field — a subject

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