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: rock · deal · saw · craft · jam · firm · shower · tube

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. tube — the underground
  3. firm — decided
  4. rock — a stone
  5. saw — the tool
  6. craft — boats
  7. shower — a meteor shower
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. jam — in traffic
  11. rock — music
  12. shower — to wash
  13. tube — in a tire
  14. firm — a company
  15. shower — rain
  16. saw — the tool
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. craft — a skill
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. tube — a container
  21. deal — to handle
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. firm — steady
  24. deal — an agreement

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