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

  1. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. False peace will not ________________.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — of ice
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. swing — in golf
  5. cap — a hat
  6. roll — a list
  7. swing — to play on
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. last — final
  10. bulb — for light
  11. cap — a lid
  12. last — to go on
  13. lean — to bend
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. lean — thin
  16. last — finally
  17. roll — a cake
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bass — low music
  20. swing — music
  21. bass — the fish
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. wave — with your hand
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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