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. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. He was locked up in a ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. cell — in biology
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. row — a line
  5. row — to paddle
  6. object — an aim
  7. cell — in a prison
  8. ball — a great time
  9. net — after costs
  10. shower — rain
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. net — in sport
  13. object — a thing
  14. net — for catching
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. object — to protest
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. shower — to wash
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. cell — a phone

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