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 116 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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. suit — to fit
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. march — the month
  5. march — the month
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. track — a song
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. tube — the underground
  11. stand — to bear
  12. track — a path
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. bear — the animal
  15. ball — a great time
  16. march — music
  17. bear — the animal
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. track — to keep track
  20. tube — a container
  21. ball — a dance
  22. suit — in cards
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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