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. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  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. fall — the season
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. chip — to eat
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. stock — shares
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. bear — the animal
  11. season — in sport
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. fall — to drop
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. fall — to drop
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. stock — goods
  19. season — of the year
  20. bear — the animal
  21. chip — for betting
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. toast — bread
  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