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 cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. mate — a friend
  3. face — to point toward
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. ball — a great time
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pit — a hole
  9. mate — a partner
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. pit — in a race
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. face — to confront
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. face — part of the head
  19. ball — a dance
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. suit — in cards
  22. suit — to fit
  23. perch — the fish
  24. mate — to breed

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