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: board · ball · suit · arm · bank · snap · sharp · patient

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. suit — to fit
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. board — to get on
  7. patient — calm and waiting
  8. suit — in cards
  9. ball — a dance
  10. snap — to click
  11. board — a committee
  12. bank — of a river
  13. suit — clothes
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. snap — to speak sharply
  17. bank — for money
  18. snap — to snap out of it
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. sharp — clever
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. ball — a great time
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. arm — part of the body

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