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 120 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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. can — to be able to
  3. can — a tin
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. bank — for money
  6. can — a tin
  7. bank — of a river
  8. saw — the tool
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. bass — low music
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. deal — to handle
  17. bank — for money
  18. rush — hurry
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bowl — a dish

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