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

Word bank: sharp · vault · stick · rash · spell · pass · game · pitcher

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. rash — hasty
  8. spell — magic
  9. vault — a safe
  10. spell — letters
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. game — wild animals
  15. rash — a series
  16. pass — a permit
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. spell — a short time
  20. game — a match
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. sharp — exactly

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