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: fan · net · mug · file · dip · bore · nail · cell

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. He was locked up in a ________________.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. net — for catching
  3. net — after costs
  4. bore — to drill
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. file — a line of people
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. mug — a cup
  9. cell — in biology
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. mug — to rob
  15. dip — to sink
  16. bore — to tire
  17. cell — a phone
  18. mug — a face
  19. net — in sport
  20. cell — in a prison
  21. file — a tool
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. bore — gave birth

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