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 120 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 dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. firm — decided
  3. firm — steady
  4. rock — a stone
  5. mate — a friend
  6. firm — a company
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. shower — to wash
  10. rock — music
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. bound — certain
  13. can — a tin
  14. mine — for digging
  15. can — a tin
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. ball — a great time
  18. mate — to breed
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bound — tied together
  21. can — to be able to
  22. shower — rain
  23. bound — obliged
  24. mate — a partner

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