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. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. can — to be able to
  5. chip — for betting
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. chip — to eat
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. mark — a trace
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. can — a tin
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mark — a grade
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. can — a tin
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. stand — to bear
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. pit — in a race

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