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. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. The light ________________ burned out.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. stock — goods
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. bulb — for light
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. roll — a list
  8. stock — shares
  9. face — to point toward
  10. face — to confront
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. pass — a permit
  13. face — part of the head
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. season — in sport
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. lie — to recline
  21. bulb — for light
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. pitch — completely
  24. roll — a cake

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