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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  24. David sat on the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. object — to protest
  3. staff — employees
  4. object — a thing
  5. season — in sport
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. bulb — for light
  8. object — an aim
  9. staff — employees
  10. roll — a cake
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. swing — in golf
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. fine — all right
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. roll — a list
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. fine — high quality
  21. bulb — for light
  22. season — of the year
  23. staff — a stick
  24. swing — to play on

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