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: jam · band · sharp · charge · can · calf · key · pitch

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. key — in music
  5. charge — electricity
  6. can — to be able to
  7. band — a ring
  8. pitch — completely
  9. charge — a price
  10. charge — in control
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. can — a tin
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. sharp — clever
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. key — the most important part
  19. key — for a lock
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. band — a music group
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. can — a tin

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