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: pitcher · toast · jam · field · bore · nail · cabinet · pound

  1. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. pound — for dogs
  6. field — a subject
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. toast — bread
  11. pound — a weight
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bore — to tire
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. bore — to drill
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. field — farmland
  24. field — for sport

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