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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: fall · leaves · court · fine · deal · can · nail · mouse

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. fine — all right
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. fall — to drop
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. court — for sport
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. can — to be able to
  13. fine — high quality
  14. fall — to drop
  15. deal — to handle
  16. court — of a king
  17. can — a tin
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. can — a tin
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. court — of law
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. fall — the season
  24. leaves — to go away

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