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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. firm — steady
  3. firm — a company
  4. toast — bread
  5. game — a match
  6. wound — an injury
  7. ball — a dance
  8. ball — a great time
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. bass — low music
  11. firm — decided
  12. rest — what's left
  13. rest — a break
  14. game — wild animals
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. bass — the fish
  17. rock — music
  18. wound — past of 'wind'
  19. rock — a stone
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. wound — an injury
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. ball — a round shape

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