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 speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. drill — a practice
  5. fine — high quality
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. fine — all right
  8. file — a document
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. can — a tin
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. drill — the tool
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. rush — hurry
  15. can — a tin
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. can — to be able to
  18. file — a line of people
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. drill — army training
  21. file — a tool
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. pitch — completely
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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