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: current · pitch · track · lean · cabinet · stick · saw · toast

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. lean — to bend
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. current — electric
  6. track — a path
  7. lean — thin
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. pitch — a sales talk
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. track — to keep track
  14. pitch — completely
  15. saw — the tool
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. current — of water
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. current — happening now
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. toast — bread
  24. track — a song

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