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. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. That was a fun ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. fine — high quality
  4. game — a match
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. bear — the animal
  7. content — the amount
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. bear — the animal
  12. suit — in cards
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. can — to be able to
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. can — a tin
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. can — a tin
  19. suit — clothes
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. suit — to fit
  22. content — happy
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. fine — all right

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