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 120 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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. chip — for betting
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. squash — the sport
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. rash — hasty
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. can — to be able to
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. can — a tin
  11. scale — in music
  12. scale — size or range
  13. rash — a series
  14. deal — to handle
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. chip — to eat
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. saw — the tool
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. saw — the tool
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. squash — to crush
  24. leaves — lets stay

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