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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. bound — certain
  3. suit — in cards
  4. suit — to fit
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. hand — in cards
  7. bass — low music
  8. can — to be able to
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. stand — to bear
  12. bound — tied together
  13. can — a tin
  14. cue — a hint
  15. can — a tin
  16. hand — help
  17. fork — in a road
  18. cue — for pool
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bound — obliged
  21. cue — a signal
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. suit — clothes
  24. bass — the fish

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