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 soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. drill — the tool
  4. suit — clothes
  5. mate — a friend
  6. suit — to fit
  7. ball — a great time
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. mate — a partner
  10. hand — help
  11. ball — a dance
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. charge — a price
  14. charge — electricity
  15. drill — a practice
  16. mate — to breed
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. charge — in control
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. hand — in cards
  22. scale — in music
  23. suit — in cards
  24. scale — size or range

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