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: pitcher · can · cell · face · leaves · mouse · saw · key

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. cell — in biology
  3. face — part of the head
  4. can — a tin
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. key — the most important part
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. face — to confront
  10. saw — the tool
  11. cell — a phone
  12. face — to point toward
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. saw — the tool
  18. key — in music
  19. key — for a lock
  20. can — a tin
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. can — to be able to
  24. leaves — lets stay

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