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: racket · leaves · rush · spring · pass · mug · bound · field

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. The flowers bloom in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. mug — a cup
  3. spring — a coil
  4. field — for sport
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. pass — a permit
  7. bound — obliged
  8. mug — a face
  9. bound — certain
  10. field — farmland
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. field — a subject
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. rush — hurry
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. spring — of water
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. mug — to rob
  20. bound — tied together
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. spring — the season

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