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 · ball · object · chip · suit · hand · mouse · staff

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. chip — to eat
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. hand — in cards
  7. staff — a stick
  8. chip — for betting
  9. ball — a dance
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. object — a thing
  12. suit — clothes
  13. object — to protest
  14. hand — help
  15. suit — to fit
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. fine — high quality
  18. object — an aim
  19. staff — employees
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. fine — all right
  22. ball — a great time
  23. suit — in cards
  24. mouse — the animal

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