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: race · suit · coach · current · bat · can · bay · date

  1. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  2. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  18. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  23. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. race — a contest
  2. bat — in an idiom
  3. date — the fruit
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. can — a tin
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. suit — in cards
  9. current — electric
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. current — of water
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. current — happening now
  14. can — a tin
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. can — to be able to
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. race — humankind
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. suit — to fit
  21. suit — clothes
  22. bat — the animal
  23. race — the arms race
  24. bat — for baseball

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