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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. staff — employees
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. mate — to breed
  7. fine — high quality
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. mug — to rob
  11. pit — a hole
  12. mate — a friend
  13. staff — employees
  14. mug — a face
  15. mate — a partner
  16. foot — a measure
  17. mug — a cup
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. staff — a stick
  22. pit — in a race
  23. fine — all right
  24. foot — the bottom

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