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 watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. present — a gift
  3. suit — in cards
  4. suit — clothes
  5. present — there
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. branch — a division
  9. toast — bread
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. key — for a lock
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. suit — to fit
  14. branch — of a tree
  15. hand — help
  16. present — the time now
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. hand — in cards
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. key — in music
  21. key — the most important part
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. season — in sport
  24. season — of the year

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