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 116 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: suit · firm · cabinet · vault · cold · prune · pound · ball

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. The water is too ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. firm — decided
  3. cold — the Cold War
  4. suit — in cards
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. cold — an illness
  8. prune — to trim
  9. cold — not warm
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. suit — clothes
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pound — a weight
  15. ball — a great time
  16. firm — steady
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. prune — to trim
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. firm — a company
  21. vault — a safe
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. suit — to fit

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