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: spell · wake · can · ground · bore · snap · jam · pitcher

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. Add some ________________ pepper to it.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. spell — magic
  5. ground — a position
  6. bore — to drill
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. snap — to click
  11. can — to be able to
  12. bore — to tire
  13. can — a tin
  14. ground — the earth
  15. spell — letters
  16. spell — a short time
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. can — a tin
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. ground — crushed

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