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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. net — in sport
  3. net — for catching
  4. mark — a grade
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. rash — hasty
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. march — the month
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. march — the month
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. band — a music group
  16. mark — a trace
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. band — a ring
  19. march — music
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. net — after costs
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. rash — a series

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