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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. mark — a trace
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. net — in sport
  5. object — to protest
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. fork — in a road
  8. net — after costs
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. fork — to eat with
  12. board — to get on
  13. chip — for betting
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. net — for catching
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. board — a committee
  20. chip — to eat
  21. object — an aim
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. object — a thing
  24. mark — a grade

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