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. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. can — to be able to
  4. board — to get on
  5. can — a tin
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. dip — to sink
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. stand — to bear
  12. key — the most important part
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. can — a tin
  16. key — in music
  17. net — in sport
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. net — after costs
  21. key — for a lock
  22. board — a committee
  23. net — for catching
  24. bowl — to roll

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