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: pit · charge · lean · can · rash · season · trunk · pass

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. pass — a permit
  5. charge — a price
  6. rash — a series
  7. rash — hasty
  8. lean — thin
  9. pit — a hole
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. pit — in a race
  12. lean — to bend
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. pass — to spend time
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. charge — in control
  19. season — in sport
  20. can — a tin
  21. can — to be able to
  22. season — of the year
  23. can — a tin
  24. charge — electricity

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