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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. I'll be taking the ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. board — a committee
  4. march — the month
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. spring — the season
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. fine — all right
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. ball — a dance
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. march — music
  15. board — to get on
  16. march — the month
  17. fine — high quality
  18. spring — of water
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. tube — a container
  21. ball — a great time
  22. spring — a coil
  23. tube — the underground
  24. deal — an agreement

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