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. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. fall — to drop
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. sharp — clever
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. board — to get on
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. board — a committee
  16. pass — a permit
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. pitch — completely
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. rush — hurry
  23. fall — the season
  24. pass — to spend time

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