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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. lean — thin
  3. lean — to bend
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. content — happy
  8. chip — for betting
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. cap — a lid
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. game — wild animals
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. cap — of ice
  16. rock — a stone
  17. game — a match
  18. content — the amount
  19. chip — to eat
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. cap — a hat
  23. rock — music
  24. rock — to move gently

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