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 116 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. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. mark — a trace
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. scale — in music
  6. mark — a grade
  7. ball — a great time
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. drill — army training
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. bore — to tire
  14. drill — a practice
  15. last — to go on
  16. last — finally
  17. scale — size or range
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bore — to drill
  22. ball — a dance
  23. last — final
  24. hide — to keep secret

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