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. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. cue — a signal
  3. cap — a hat
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. pass — a permit
  6. cap — of ice
  7. spring — the season
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. field — farmland
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. cue — a hint
  15. spring — a coil
  16. mug — a cup
  17. deal — to handle
  18. cue — for pool
  19. spring — of water
  20. mug — a face
  21. cap — a lid
  22. field — a subject
  23. mug — to rob
  24. field — for sport

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