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 120 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: mark · pass · can · board · nail · swing · pit · pitcher

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. mark — a trace
  4. mark — a grade
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. swing — to play on
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. pit — a hole
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pit — in a race
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. board — a committee
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. board — to get on
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. swing — in golf
  23. can — a tin
  24. swing — music

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