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. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. object — an aim
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. content — the amount
  10. object — a thing
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. content — happy
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. branch — a division
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. saw — the tool
  18. saw — the tool
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. object — to protest
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. fan — a supporter

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