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 · pitcher · date · race · mark · drill · deal · ground

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. drill — a practice
  3. deal — to handle
  4. mark — a trace
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. drill — the tool
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. date — the fruit
  9. race — a contest
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. ground — crushed
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. mark — a grade
  15. ground — a position
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. drill — army training
  18. race — humankind
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pass — a permit
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. race — the arms race
  24. mark — to pay attention

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