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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. The ball is in your ________________.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. court — for sport
  4. season — in sport
  5. spell — a short time
  6. rock — music
  7. bulb — for light
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. bulb — for light
  10. court — of a king
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. mug — a face
  13. mug — to rob
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. season — of the year
  17. court — of law
  18. foot — a measure
  19. spell — letters
  20. mug — a cup
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. rock — a stone
  24. spell — magic

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