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: capital · can · deal · tube · prune · bore · pit · fall

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  13. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  14. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  15. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. bore — to drill
  3. capital — a big letter
  4. can — a tin
  5. tube — in a tire
  6. can — a tin
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. prune — to trim
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. bore — to tire
  11. tube — the underground
  12. capital — money
  13. fall — the season
  14. fall — to drop
  15. capital — a city
  16. fall — to drop
  17. prune — to trim
  18. tube — a container
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. deal — to handle
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. pit — a hole

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