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: sharp · wave · racket · fine · dip · scale · pitcher · can

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. can — a tin
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. can — to be able to
  11. scale — size or range
  12. sharp — clever
  13. fine — high quality
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. can — a tin
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. dip — to sink
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. scale — in music
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. fine — all right

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