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 116 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's very handy with a ________________.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. shower — to wash
  3. tube — the underground
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. ball — a dance
  6. saw — the tool
  7. pop — to visit
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. cap — a lid
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. pop — music
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. cap — of ice
  17. tube — a container
  18. ball — a great time
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pop — soda
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. shower — rain
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. cap — a hat

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