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: pass · vault · chip · tube · clip · nail · rest · leaves

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. tube — the underground
  3. rest — what's left
  4. vault — an arched ceiling
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. tube — a container
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. clip — a video
  11. chip — to eat
  12. rest — a break
  13. clip — for paper
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. rest — what's left
  17. chip — for betting
  18. vault — a safe
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. pass — a permit
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. clip — to cut

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