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: mark · cabinet · fine · ball · rock · patient · date · fork

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. mark — a grade
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. fork — in a road
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. rock — a stone
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. fine — high quality
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. ball — a dance
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. rock — music
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. mark — a trace
  17. fine — all right
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. ball — a great time
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. date — on the calendar

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