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 116 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. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a leader
  2. can — to be able to
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. bass — the fish
  7. can — a tin
  8. bass — low music
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. last — final
  12. last — to go on
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. can — a tin
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. last — finally
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. chair — a professorship

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