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 players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. mark — a grade
  3. roll — a list
  4. staff — employees
  5. staff — employees
  6. craft — boats
  7. mark — a trace
  8. charge — electricity
  9. craft — a skill
  10. spell — a short time
  11. spell — letters
  12. roll — a cake
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. staff — a stick
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. suit — clothes
  17. charge — in control
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. charge — a price
  21. suit — to fit
  22. spell — magic
  23. suit — in cards
  24. pitch — completely

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