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. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — letters
  2. chip — to eat
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. spell — a short time
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. spell — magic
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. chip — for betting
  18. bank — for money
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. bank — for money
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. bank — of a river

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