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 120 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. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  17. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  18. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. We had a fire ________________ at school today.

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

Answer key

  1. degree — temperature
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. degree — an amount
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. drill — the tool
  9. bulb — for light
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. track — to keep track
  12. ground — a position
  13. drill — army training
  14. stand — to bear
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. degree — from a university
  17. ground — the earth
  18. track — a path
  19. dip — to sink
  20. track — a song
  21. ground — crushed
  22. bulb — for light
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. drill — a practice

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