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 116 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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. My mare is ________________ in color.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. wake — a trail
  4. squash — the sport
  5. stand — to bear
  6. mate — a friend
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. mate — to breed
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. bay — a horse colour
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. mate — a partner
  13. ball — a dance
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. ball — a great time
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. squash — to crush
  18. 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