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 · cap · mug · fine · swing · saw · dip · fan

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. cap — a lid
  3. saw — the tool
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. swing — in golf
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. cap — of ice
  10. saw — the tool
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. mug — a face
  13. cap — a hat
  14. swing — music
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. mug — a cup
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. fine — high quality
  19. fine — all right
  20. mug — to rob
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. swing — to play on
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. dip — to sink

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