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. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  5. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. shower — rain
  4. shower — to wash
  5. wind — to turn a key
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. track — a song
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. track — a path
  10. rush — hurry
  11. wind — moving air
  12. stand — to bear
  13. bank — of a river
  14. track — to keep track
  15. shower — a meteor shower
  16. bulb — for light
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. wind — moving air
  19. bank — for money
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. bank — for money

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