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. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. season — in sport
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. squash — to crush
  7. scale — in music
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. rush — hurry
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. squash — the sport
  18. scale — size or range
  19. stand — to bear
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. arm — a part of something

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