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: fine · bore · saw · vault · toast · trunk · fan · ball

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  5. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. ball — a dance
  3. bore — to drill
  4. vault — in gymnastics
  5. vault — a safe
  6. toast — bread
  7. fine — all right
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. fine — high quality
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. saw — the tool
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. bore — to tire
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. saw — the tool
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. ball — a round shape

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