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: stick · suit · game · nail · rush · bay · shower · jam

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. game — wild animals
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. shower — rain
  6. suit — to fit
  7. rush — hurry
  8. game — a match
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. suit — in cards
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. suit — clothes
  24. shower — to wash

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