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. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. This piece is in a major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. dip — to sink
  3. suit — clothes
  4. pass — a permit
  5. net — after costs
  6. can — a tin
  7. net — in sport
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. key — the most important part
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. tube — the underground
  12. suit — in cards
  13. suit — to fit
  14. prune — to trim
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. tube — a container
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. prune — to trim
  23. key — for a lock
  24. key — in music

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