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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. rule — to rule out
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. scale — in music
  8. mark — a grade
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. saw — the tool
  13. mark — a trace
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. craft — a skill
  16. saw — the tool
  17. rule — government
  18. rule — a law
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. craft — boats

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