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. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  18. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. can — a tin
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. tear — to rip
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. wake — a trail
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. toast — bread
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. wake — to stop sleeping
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. tear — from crying
  18. tear — from crying
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. can — to be able to
  23. can — a tin
  24. coach — a trainer

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