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: jam · rush · snap · fan · firm · ball · deal · vault

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. snap — to click
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. deal — to handle
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. rush — hurry
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. firm — decided
  14. ball — a dance
  15. vault — a safe
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. firm — steady
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. ball — a great time
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. firm — a company

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