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. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Have you settled on a ________________?
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. scale — size or range
  5. stand — to bear
  6. can — a tin
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. pass — a permit
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. can — a tin
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. date — the fruit
  16. scale — in music
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. can — to be able to
  24. coach — a trainer

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