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. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. bank — for money
  4. fine — all right
  5. bear — the animal
  6. pit — in a race
  7. bank — for money
  8. date — the fruit
  9. bear — the animal
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. can — to be able to
  12. fine — high quality
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. bank — of a river
  15. pit — a hole
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — a tin
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. date — on the calendar

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