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. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. march — music
  3. can — a tin
  4. march — the month
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. season — in sport
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — for light
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. board — to get on
  15. season — of the year
  16. can — to be able to
  17. can — a tin
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. board — a committee

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