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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. vault — an arched ceiling
  3. swing — music
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. board — a committee
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. ground — the earth
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. board — to get on
  13. swing — to play on
  14. vault — a safe
  15. swing — in golf
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. squash — the sport
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. squash — to crush
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. ground — a position
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. ground — crushed
  24. vault — in gymnastics

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