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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. board — a committee
  3. pitch — completely
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. charge — electricity
  6. scale — size or range
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. board — to get on
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fine — all right
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. scale — in music
  18. charge — a price
  19. fine — high quality
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. pass — a permit
  22. charge — in control
  23. pass — to succeed
  24. pitch — a sports field

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