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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. dip — to sink
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. chip — to eat
  5. ball — a great time
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. scale — in music
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. chip — for betting
  10. scale — size or range
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. game — wild animals
  15. rock — a stone
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. ball — a dance
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. game — a match
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. rock — music
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. ball — a round shape

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