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. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. spell — a short time
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. can — a tin
  6. charge — a price
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. drill — army training
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. drill — a practice
  13. drill — the tool
  14. spell — magic
  15. can — a tin
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. charge — in control
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. can — to be able to
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. charge — electricity
  23. rock — a stone
  24. rock — music

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