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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. net — after costs
  3. cap — a lid
  4. net — in sport
  5. rash — hasty
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. staff — employees
  9. swing — in golf
  10. staff — employees
  11. cap — of ice
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. cap — a hat
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. swing — to play on
  18. swing — music
  19. pass — a permit
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. staff — a stick
  24. net — for catching

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