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 ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. rash — a series
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. bank — for money
  5. ground — a position
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. rash — hasty
  8. bank — of a river
  9. bear — the animal
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bear — the animal
  12. ground — crushed
  13. ground — the earth
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. kid — to tease
  16. kid — child
  17. season — in sport
  18. rest — a break
  19. bank — for money
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. season — of the year
  22. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  23. rest — what's left
  24. bear — to put up with

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