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. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. charge — a price
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. fall — to drop
  5. fall — to drop
  6. field — a subject
  7. rock — a stone
  8. can — to be able to
  9. fall — the season
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. field — farmland
  13. rush — hurry
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. rock — music
  17. charge — electricity
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. can — a tin
  20. charge — in control
  21. field — for sport
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. can — a tin

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