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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  12. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. pit — a hole
  3. squash — the sport
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. mug — a face
  7. roll — a list
  8. mug — a cup
  9. land — to come down
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. land — ground
  12. land — a country
  13. fine — all right
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. fine — high quality
  16. mug — to rob
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. roll — a cake
  23. pit — in a race
  24. squash — to crush

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