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: march · pitcher · mug · can · fine · net · chest · mouse

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  10. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. can — to be able to
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. net — after costs
  7. net — for catching
  8. can — a tin
  9. chest — a box
  10. chest — of your body
  11. march — the month
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mug — a face
  14. net — in sport
  15. march — music
  16. mug — a cup
  17. chest — of your body
  18. fine — high quality
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. march — the month
  21. can — a tin
  22. mug — to rob
  23. fine — all right
  24. mouse — the animal

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