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. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a quarrel
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. fine — all right
  4. fine — high quality
  5. can — a tin
  6. pass — a permit
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. hand — help
  9. wax — to grow
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. can — a tin
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. row — a line
  18. row — to paddle
  19. can — to be able to
  20. hand — in cards
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. vault — a safe
  23. stand — to bear
  24. stand — on your feet

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