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: cap · fine · ground · snap · bound · bowl · mark · fan

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. There's no middle ________________.
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. mark — a grade
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. fine — high quality
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. mark — a trace
  10. ground — crushed
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. cap — a lid
  13. ground — the earth
  14. cap — of ice
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. cap — a hat
  17. bound — certain
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. ground — a position
  20. snap — to click
  21. fine — all right
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. bound — obliged

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