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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. pitch — completely
  3. bank — for money
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. bank — for money
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. season — of the year
  10. chest — of your body
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. prune — to trim
  13. chest — of your body
  14. bank — of a river
  15. cap — of ice
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. prune — to trim
  19. cap — a lid
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. chest — a box
  22. season — in sport
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. cap — a hat

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