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 120 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 ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — the animal
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. cap — a lid
  5. drill — the tool
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. mug — to rob
  8. deal — to handle
  9. mark — a grade
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. cap — a hat
  12. mug — a face
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. bat — in an idiom
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. wake — a trail
  17. drill — army training
  18. cap — of ice
  19. mark — a trace
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. mug — a cup
  23. drill — a practice
  24. bat — for baseball

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