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. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  15. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. bat — for baseball
  3. season — of the year
  4. current — happening now
  5. season — in sport
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. present — a gift
  9. present — there
  10. suit — to fit
  11. present — the time now
  12. bat — the animal
  13. squash — the sport
  14. bat — in an idiom
  15. game — wild animals
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. suit — in cards
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. current — electric
  21. current — of water
  22. squash — to crush
  23. game — a match
  24. arm — part of the body

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