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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. tube — the underground
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. can — to be able to
  7. stock — shares
  8. plane — a tool
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. clip — to cut
  11. stock — goods
  12. can — a tin
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. stock — a soup base
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. cap — a lid
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. can — a tin
  19. clip — for paper
  20. tube — a container
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. cap — of ice
  24. clip — a video

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