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: cap · bass · jam · date · trunk · mug · craft · suit

  1. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a skill
  2. suit — in cards
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. bass — low music
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. bass — the fish
  7. cap — a hat
  8. suit — clothes
  9. cap — a lid
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. mug — to rob
  13. mug — a cup
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. cap — of ice
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. date — the fruit
  19. mug — a face
  20. craft — boats
  21. suit — to fit
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. craft — a handicraft
  24. bass — the instrument

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