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: bowl · coach · land · bank · can · staff · sharp · fan

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. can — a tin
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. land — to come down
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. can — to be able to
  9. staff — a stick
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bank — for money
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. land — ground
  14. sharp — clever
  15. staff — employees
  16. land — a country
  17. can — a tin
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. bank — for money
  20. staff — employees
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. bowl — a football final
  24. bowl — a dish

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