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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. pop — music
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. net — in sport
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. can — to be able to
  7. vault — a safe
  8. net — after costs
  9. pop — to visit
  10. net — for catching
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. vault — an arched ceiling
  14. pitch — completely
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. can — a tin
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. pop — soda

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