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: bat · pitcher · suit · fan · season · bore · current · scale

  1. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. bat — the animal
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. suit — to fit
  4. scale — in music
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. current — happening now
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. suit — in cards
  12. current — of water
  13. season — in sport
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. scale — size or range
  17. bore — to drill
  18. suit — clothes
  19. current — electric
  20. bat — for baseball
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. season — of the year
  24. bore — to tire

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