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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. wake — a trail
  4. ball — a great time
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. object — an aim
  8. rock — music
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. stand — to bear
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. season — in sport
  17. ball — a dance
  18. craft — a skill
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. rock — a stone
  21. craft — boats
  22. object — to protest
  23. season — of the year
  24. object — a thing

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