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: drill · cell · can · kick · jam · tube · scale · craft

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. drill — a practice
  3. can — a tin
  4. kick — in football
  5. tube — the underground
  6. kick — with a leg
  7. craft — a skill
  8. drill — the tool
  9. tube — a container
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. cell — a phone
  12. scale — size or range
  13. can — a tin
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. cell — in biology
  16. drill — army training
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. kick — a thrill
  20. scale — in music
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. can — to be able to
  23. craft — boats
  24. jam — in traffic

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