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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. dip — to sink
  3. rash — hasty
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. sharp — clever
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. mine — for digging
  9. toast — bread
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. squash — the sport
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. rash — a series
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. squash — to crush
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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