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. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  21. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. prune — to trim
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. rock — music
  10. season — of the year
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. rock — a stone
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. prune — to trim
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. bass — the fish
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. lash — a whip stroke
  21. wake — a trail
  22. season — in sport
  23. bass — low music
  24. lash — to lash out

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