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. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. hand — in cards
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. can — a tin
  5. chest — a box
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. can — to be able to
  8. current — of water
  9. perch — the fish
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. current — electric
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. hand — help
  14. mate — to breed
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. can — a tin
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. mate — a friend
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. chest — of your body
  23. current — happening now
  24. mate — a partner

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