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. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  2. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — in cards
  2. bat — the animal
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. can — a tin
  5. mug — a cup
  6. bat — in an idiom
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. bat — for baseball
  9. tube — the underground
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. tube — a container
  12. suit — to fit
  13. can — a tin
  14. content — the amount
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. mug — to rob
  17. can — to be able to
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. rock — a stone
  20. mug — a face
  21. content — happy
  22. rock — music
  23. suit — clothes
  24. content — videos and posts

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