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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. can — a tin
  5. chip — to eat
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. track — a song
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bat — the animal
  13. cap — a hat
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. track — to keep track
  16. cap — a lid
  17. can — a tin
  18. bear — the animal
  19. pass — a permit
  20. chip — for betting
  21. cap — of ice
  22. track — a path
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. bat — for baseball

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