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 116 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 was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. can — a tin
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. suit — clothes
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. suit — in cards
  10. saw — the tool
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. drill — army training
  13. can — a tin
  14. drill — the tool
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. mine — for digging
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. saw — the tool
  20. prune — to trim
  21. drill — a practice
  22. prune — to trim
  23. can — to be able to
  24. suit — to fit

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