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's very handy with a ________________.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. land — to come down
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — to be able to
  6. stand — to bear
  7. tube — a container
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. land — a country
  11. mate — a friend
  12. pop — music
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. pop — soda
  16. can — a tin
  17. land — ground
  18. saw — the tool
  19. tube — the underground
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. mate — a partner
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. mate — to breed
  24. pop — to visit

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