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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. roll — a list
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. stick — to attach or keep to
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. roll — a cake
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. mark — a trace
  9. cap — a lid
  10. suit — to fit
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. mark — a grade
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. suit — in cards
  15. season — in sport
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. cap — of ice
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. season — of the year
  21. mine — for digging
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. suit — clothes
  24. mine — an explosive

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