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 120 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: pass · scale · spell · tube · suit · coach · lean · bay

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. lean — to bend
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. spell — a short time
  6. pass — a permit
  7. spell — magic
  8. suit — to fit
  9. lean — thin
  10. suit — in cards
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. tube — the underground
  13. scale — size or range
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. tube — a container
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. scale — in music
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. spell — letters
  24. suit — clothes

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