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: ball · stand · suit · cap · cold · mug · net · fine

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The water is too ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. fine — high quality
  3. net — after costs
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. mug — a cup
  6. suit — in cards
  7. cold — an illness
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. cap — of ice
  10. cap — a lid
  11. net — for catching
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. ball — a dance
  15. cold — not warm
  16. suit — to fit
  17. stand — to bear
  18. ball — a great time
  19. cold — the Cold War
  20. fine — all right
  21. cap — a hat
  22. mug — to rob
  23. net — in sport
  24. mug — a face

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