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. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — a video
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. suit — clothes
  4. date — the fruit
  5. foot — a measure
  6. suit — in cards
  7. clip — to cut
  8. ball — a great time
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. roll — a cake
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. roll — a list
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. suit — to fit
  19. clip — for paper
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. ball — a dance
  24. arm — part of the body

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