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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. squash — the sport
  8. pass — a permit
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. drill — the tool
  14. content — the amount
  15. squash — to crush
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. bass — the fish
  18. drill — a practice
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. bass — low music
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. content — happy
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. drill — army training

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