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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. spring — the season
  4. capital — money
  5. bore — to drill
  6. saw — the tool
  7. bore — to tire
  8. saw — the tool
  9. capital — a city
  10. roll — a list
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. toast — bread
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. pit — a hole
  16. spring — a coil
  17. spring — of water
  18. pit — in a race
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. roll — a cake

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