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: can · net · jam · trunk · pass · fork · suit · ball

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. ball — a dance
  5. can — a tin
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. suit — clothes
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. suit — in cards
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. trunk — of a car
  12. can — a tin
  13. net — after costs
  14. can — to be able to
  15. net — for catching
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. suit — to fit
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. fork — in a road
  21. net — in sport
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. pass — a permit
  24. fork — to eat with

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