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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. rest — what's left
  3. spell — a short time
  4. rest — what's left
  5. content — happy
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. spell — magic
  8. game — a match
  9. game — wild animals
  10. content — videos and posts
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. rest — a break
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. content — the amount
  20. deal — to handle
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. spell — letters
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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