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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  17. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. scale — size or range
  3. wind — moving air
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. face — to point toward
  7. can — a tin
  8. mug — a cup
  9. roll — a cake
  10. mug — a face
  11. roll — a list
  12. can — a tin
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. face — part of the head
  15. mug — to rob
  16. wind — moving air
  17. wind — to turn a key
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. face — to confront
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. can — to be able to
  23. scale — in music
  24. foot — the bottom

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