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: toast · deal · pitcher · squash · current · saw · racket · can

  1. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — to be able to
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. toast — bread
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. saw — the tool
  12. deal — to handle
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. current — electric
  17. squash — to crush
  18. squash — the sport
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. can — a tin
  22. current — of water
  23. saw — the tool
  24. current — happening now

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