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. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. can — a tin
  3. squash — the sport
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. cap — of ice
  6. squash — to crush
  7. can — a tin
  8. vault — an arched ceiling
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. vault — in gymnastics
  12. cap — a lid
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. drill — a practice
  15. can — to be able to
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. drill — the tool
  19. kick — with a leg
  20. drill — army training
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. vault — a safe
  23. kick — in football
  24. arm — part of the body

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