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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. chip — for betting
  3. ball — a great time
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. branch — a division
  7. ball — a dance
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. tube — a container
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. tube — the underground
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. mug — a cup
  16. chip — to eat
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. mug — a face
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. kid — child
  22. mug — to rob
  23. kid — to tease
  24. rush — hurry

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