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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. mate — to breed
  3. mate — a friend
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. wake — before a funeral
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. fine — high quality
  9. saw — the tool
  10. pitch — completely
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. mate — a partner
  13. saw — the tool
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. can — to be able to
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. can — a tin
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. racket — a loud noise
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fine — all right
  24. can — a tin

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