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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. You don't need to ________________ round.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. dip — to sink
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. pop — soda
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. net — after costs
  8. net — for catching
  9. bear — the animal
  10. can — to be able to
  11. bound — certain
  12. bound — tied together
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. net — in sport
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. bound — obliged
  18. pop — to visit
  19. can — a tin
  20. pop — music
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. bear — the animal

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