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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. mark — a trace
  4. bank — of a river
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. can — a tin
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. bear — the animal
  10. can — to be able to
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. bank — for money
  14. face — to confront
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. bass — low music
  18. face — part of the head
  19. face — to point toward
  20. bass — the fish
  21. bear — the animal
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. bank — for money
  24. can — a tin

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