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: coach · sharp · bound · suit · date · race · clip · rock

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  13. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. clip — a video
  3. suit — clothes
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. bound — certain
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. bound — obliged
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. suit — in cards
  10. race — humankind
  11. rock — a stone
  12. race — the arms race
  13. clip — to cut
  14. sharp — clever
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. suit — to fit
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. clip — for paper
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. date — the fruit
  23. race — a contest
  24. rock — music

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