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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. tube — the underground
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. row — to paddle
  9. stand — to bear
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. row — a line
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. tube — a container
  18. wound — an injury
  19. rush — hurry
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. pitch — completely
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. wound — an injury
  24. fan — to cool the air

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