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 116 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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. bound — obliged
  4. hand — in cards
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. saw — the tool
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. wound — an injury
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pitch — completely
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. pass — a permit
  13. content — the amount
  14. saw — the tool
  15. wound — an injury
  16. bound — tied together
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. hand — help
  23. content — happy
  24. bound — certain

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