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. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — a container
  2. mug — a face
  3. mark — a grade
  4. saw — the tool
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. mug — a cup
  9. saw — the tool
  10. rule — government
  11. mug — to rob
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. toast — bread
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. rule — a law
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bulb — for light
  18. mark — a trace
  19. bulb — for light
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. tube — the underground

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