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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The King held a masked ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. suit — in cards
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. lean — thin
  6. pass — a permit
  7. land — to come down
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. land — a country
  10. suit — to fit
  11. rush — hurry
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. wound — an injury
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. rock — music
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. land — ground
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. ball — a great time
  20. ball — a dance
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. lean — to bend
  23. wound — an injury
  24. rock — a stone

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