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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. clip — for paper
  3. pitch — completely
  4. clip — a video
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. court — of law
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. court — of a king
  10. lie — to recline
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. pass — a permit
  15. hand — in cards
  16. hand — help
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. court — for sport
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. clip — to cut

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