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: sharp · bank · net · mate · cap · spell · coach · suit

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. bank — for money
  3. suit — to fit
  4. net — in sport
  5. bank — for money
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. net — after costs
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. cap — of ice
  11. mate — a partner
  12. spell — letters
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. spell — a short time
  15. spell — magic
  16. cap — a hat
  17. mate — a friend
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. suit — in cards
  20. mate — to breed
  21. suit — clothes
  22. net — for catching
  23. bank — of a river
  24. sharp — clever

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