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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. scale — size or range
  3. pit — a hole
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. can — to be able to
  8. can — a tin
  9. land — ground
  10. kick — a thrill
  11. land — to come down
  12. kick — in football
  13. rush — hurry
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. land — a country
  17. scale — in music
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. chip — for betting
  20. can — a tin
  21. chip — to eat
  22. kick — with a leg
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. pitcher — a jug

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