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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. mark — a trace
  3. tube — the underground
  4. firm — a company
  5. mark — to pay attention
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. firm — steady
  8. mug — to rob
  9. last — final
  10. mark — a grade
  11. mug — a cup
  12. chest — of your body
  13. dip — to sink
  14. last — finally
  15. pound — a weight
  16. mug — a face
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. firm — decided
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. chest — of your body
  23. last — to go on
  24. chest — a box

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