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 120 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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. mate — a partner
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. squash — the sport
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. mate — to breed
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. stock — goods
  12. stock — a soup base
  13. fine — high quality
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. squash — to crush
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. fine — all right
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. stock — shares
  21. rush — hurry
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. mine — for digging

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