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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  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. season — in sport
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. wound — an injury
  4. rest — what's left
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. rest — what's left
  9. spell — a short time
  10. rest — a break
  11. season — of the year
  12. bass — low music
  13. toast — bread
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. bass — the fish
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. wound — an injury
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. spell — letters
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. leaves — to go away
  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