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. False peace will not ________________.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. last — to go on
  2. march — music
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. suit — to fit
  5. can — to be able to
  6. toast — bread
  7. last — final
  8. can — a tin
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. last — finally
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. can — a tin
  13. saw — the tool
  14. march — the month
  15. saw — the tool
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. foot — a measure
  18. suit — clothes
  19. suit — in cards
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. march — the month
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. cabinet — ministers

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