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. The tickets are free of ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — a price
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. charge — electricity
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. rash — hasty
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. pass — a permit
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. rash — a series
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. bat — for baseball
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. bat — in an idiom
  22. deal — to handle
  23. bat — the animal
  24. charge — in control

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