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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. bound — tied together
  3. charge — a price
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. field — farmland
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. field — a subject
  8. charge — electricity
  9. field — for sport
  10. pitch — completely
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. bound — obliged
  13. can — a tin
  14. bulb — for light
  15. bound — certain
  16. charge — in control
  17. bay — to keep at bay
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. can — to be able to
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. can — a tin

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