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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. ball — a dance
  3. key — in music
  4. pass — a permit
  5. key — for a lock
  6. mark — a grade
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. can — a tin
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. mark — a trace
  11. stock — shares
  12. date — the fruit
  13. present — the time now
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. key — the most important part
  17. present — there
  18. present — a gift
  19. can — to be able to
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. stock — goods
  22. can — a tin
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. mark — to pay attention

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