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: roll · pop · ball · leaves · spell · suit · can · sharp

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. ball — a great time
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. spell — magic
  7. pop — to visit
  8. spell — a short time
  9. sharp — clever
  10. can — to be able to
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. suit — clothes
  13. ball — a dance
  14. roll — a list
  15. spell — letters
  16. pop — soda
  17. roll — a cake
  18. suit — to fit
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. suit — in cards
  22. pop — music
  23. can — a tin
  24. ball — a round shape

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