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. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. The ________________ market has crashed.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. charge — in control
  2. pass — a permit
  3. sharp — clever
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. lash — to lash out
  6. game — a match
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. stock — goods
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. wake — a trail
  13. charge — a price
  14. game — wild animals
  15. stock — shares
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. charge — electricity
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. stock — a soup base
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. stand — to bear
  24. lash — an eyelash

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