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: pass · dip · trunk · fine · hand · rock · deal · staff

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. rock — a stone
  4. trunk — of an elephant
  5. hand — help
  6. rock — music
  7. staff — employees
  8. fine — high quality
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. hand — in cards
  13. fine — all right
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. staff — a stick
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. pass — a permit
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. dip — to sink
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. deal — to handle
  24. pass — to spend time

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