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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  9. When are we going to ________________?
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. pitch — completely
  5. rash — hasty
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. rash — a series
  8. shower — rain
  9. land — to come down
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. row — a line
  13. row — a quarrel
  14. land — ground
  15. row — to paddle
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. shower — to wash
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. pass — a permit
  23. land — a country
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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