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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. can — a tin
  3. bound — certain
  4. spring — a coil
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. spring — of water
  8. row — a line
  9. band — a music group
  10. row — to paddle
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. can — a tin
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. bound — obliged
  16. rash — a series
  17. band — a ring
  18. rash — hasty
  19. spring — the season
  20. can — to be able to
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. pass — a permit

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