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. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. rest — a break
  4. can — a tin
  5. can — a tin
  6. rest — what's left
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. file — a tool
  9. mine — for digging
  10. craft — a skill
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. scale — in music
  13. file — a line of people
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. scale — size or range
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. file — a document
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. can — to be able to
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. craft — boats
  24. rest — what's left

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