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. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. mug — a face
  3. pass — a permit
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. scale — size or range
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. scale — in music
  11. roll — a cake
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. roll — a list
  16. mug — to rob
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. mug — a cup
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. date — the fruit

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