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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. last — finally
  3. can — a tin
  4. cap — of ice
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. last — final
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. cap — a hat
  10. cap — a lid
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. saw — the tool
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bulb — for light
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. pit — a hole
  19. last — to go on
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. can — to be able to
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. can — a tin
  24. saw — the tool

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