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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. field — a subject
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. lean — thin
  6. suit — clothes
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. saw — the tool
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. saw — the tool
  11. field — farmland
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. content — the amount
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. field — for sport
  18. deal — to handle
  19. content — happy
  20. lean — to bend
  21. suit — in cards
  22. toast — bread
  23. suit — to fit
  24. nail — for a hammer

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