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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. can — a tin
  3. mark — a trace
  4. roll — a cake
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. rash — hasty
  8. capital — money
  9. roll — a list
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. mark — a grade
  13. pop — soda
  14. pop — to visit
  15. can — a tin
  16. capital — a big letter
  17. rash — a series
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. pass — a permit
  20. face — to point toward
  21. can — to be able to
  22. capital — a city
  23. pop — music
  24. face — to confront

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