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. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. fine — all right
  4. kick — with a leg
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. game — wild animals
  7. bore — to tire
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. kick — a thrill
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. saw — the tool
  14. bore — to drill
  15. season — of the year
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. game — a match
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. toast — bread
  21. fine — high quality
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. kick — in football
  24. saw — the tool

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