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: file · leaves · pop · pass · cap · coach · current · rock

  1. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a hat
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. file — a line of people
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. file — a document
  7. file — a tool
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. pop — soda
  10. cap — of ice
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. current — happening now
  13. rock — a stone
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rock — music
  17. pop — to visit
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. cap — a lid
  20. pop — music
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. current — electric
  23. current — of water
  24. pass — a permit

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