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: toast · bass · sharp · wave · wound · suit · pit · can

  1. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a hole
  2. can — a tin
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. wound — an injury
  7. suit — to fit
  8. can — a tin
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. can — to be able to
  11. suit — clothes
  12. sharp — clever
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. bass — low music
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. suit — in cards
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bass — the fish
  21. wound — an injury
  22. toast — bread
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. pit — in a race

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