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 124 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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. pit — in a race
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. bound — obliged
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. mark — a trace
  9. bound — certain
  10. charge — in control
  11. tube — the underground
  12. straw — dry grass
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. charge — a price
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. charge — electricity
  20. tube — a container
  21. mark — a grade
  22. straw — to clutch at straws
  23. pit — a hole
  24. tube — in a tire

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