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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. net — after costs
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. track — a path
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. track — a song
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. track — to keep track
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. pitch — completely
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. net — for catching
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. net — in sport
  24. chip — to eat

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