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. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. present — a gift
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. file — a document
  5. track — a song
  6. season — in sport
  7. track — a path
  8. file — a tool
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. can — a tin
  11. can — to be able to
  12. season — of the year
  13. file — a line of people
  14. suit — clothes
  15. present — the time now
  16. suit — to fit
  17. suit — in cards
  18. track — to keep track
  19. board — a committee
  20. cell — a phone
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. present — there
  23. can — a tin
  24. cell — in biology

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