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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  18. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  19. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. track — a path
  3. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  4. saw — the tool
  5. fine — high quality
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. kid — to tease
  8. roll — a list
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. saw — the tool
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. track — a song
  13. fine — all right
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. track — to keep track
  18. kid — child
  19. hand — in cards
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. roll — a cake
  24. hand — help

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