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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. bulb — for light
  3. stand — to bear
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. cue — a hint
  7. season — in sport
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. cue — a signal
  10. chip — for betting
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. squash — the sport
  13. dip — to sink
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. chip — to eat
  17. season — of the year
  18. squash — to crush
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. bear — the animal
  21. cue — for pool
  22. bulb — for light
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. dip — to dunk

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