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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. sharp — clever
  3. cap — a hat
  4. cap — of ice
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. can — a tin
  8. stock — a soup base
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. can — a tin
  12. key — in music
  13. track — to keep track
  14. stock — shares
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. track — a path
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. key — for a lock
  20. track — a song
  21. stock — goods
  22. cap — a lid
  23. deal — to handle
  24. key — the most important part

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