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. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  23. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  24. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. file — a line of people
  3. scale — in music
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. cap — a hat
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. charge — electricity
  9. foot — a measure
  10. charge — a price
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. kick — a thrill
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. charge — in control
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. chip — to eat
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. chip — for betting
  20. scale — size or range
  21. cap — of ice
  22. kick — in football
  23. file — a document
  24. file — a tool

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