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: can · rash · fan · pitch · fine · bulb · cue · cabinet

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. fine — all right
  4. can — to be able to
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. rash — hasty
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. cue — a hint
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. bulb — for light
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fine — high quality
  17. can — a tin
  18. cue — a signal
  19. cue — for pool
  20. rash — a series
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. can — a tin
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. bulb — for light

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