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: hand · coach · cabinet · board · pass · tube · file · mark

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. tube — a container
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. board — a committee
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. mark — a grade
  10. file — a tool
  11. file — a document
  12. board — to get on
  13. pass — a permit
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. mark — a trace
  17. hand — in cards
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. file — a line of people
  20. hand — help
  21. tube — the underground
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. tube — in a tire

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