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 116 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: bay · pitch · pass · craft · coach · trunk · saw · bound

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. pass — a permit
  4. bound — obliged
  5. pitch — completely
  6. bound — certain
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. saw — the tool
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. craft — a skill
  14. saw — the tool
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. craft — boats
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. bound — tied together
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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