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 was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. wind — moving air
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. wind — moving air
  4. bore — to drill
  5. craft — a skill
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. net — for catching
  10. can — a tin
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. wind — to turn a key
  13. chip — for betting
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. chip — to eat
  16. can — a tin
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. bore — to tire
  19. net — after costs
  20. craft — boats
  21. net — in sport
  22. pass — a permit
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. can — to be able to

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