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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. pop — soda
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. ball — a great time
  9. dip — to sink
  10. mark — a trace
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. game — wild animals
  13. ball — a dance
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. game — a match
  16. pop — music
  17. mark — a grade
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. stand — to bear
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. pop — to visit
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. bowl — a football final

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