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: bowl · mug · chair · cabinet · can · spell · pop · vault

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. mug — to rob
  3. pop — music
  4. vault — a safe
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. mug — a face
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. pop — to visit
  9. can — to be able to
  10. spell — magic
  11. can — a tin
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. can — a tin
  15. pop — soda
  16. mug — a cup
  17. spell — letters
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. chair — a leader
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. vault — in gymnastics
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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