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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. fall — to drop
  3. court — of a king
  4. court — of law
  5. fall — the season
  6. bound — tied together
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. bear — the animal
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. content — the amount
  13. bound — obliged
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. bear — the animal
  17. fall — to drop
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bound — certain
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. content — happy
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. court — for sport

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