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 120 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: can · bank · lean · rash · bay · pit · present · bass

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. rash — hasty
  5. can — a tin
  6. present — the time now
  7. pit — in a race
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. lean — to bend
  11. present — there
  12. bank — of a river
  13. bass — low music
  14. bank — for money
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. can — a tin
  17. present — a gift
  18. bass — the fish
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. bank — for money
  21. lean — thin
  22. pit — a hole
  23. can — to be able to
  24. rash — a series

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