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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  3. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. degree — from a university
  3. game — a kind of play
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. degree — an amount
  6. mug — to rob
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. pit — in a race
  11. board — to get on
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. toast — bread
  14. board — a committee
  15. game — a match
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. game — wild animals
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. degree — temperature
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. mug — a cup
  23. pit — a hole
  24. cabinet — ministers

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