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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. That was a fun ________________.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. track — a song
  3. game — wild animals
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. mug — a cup
  8. track — to keep track
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. squash — to crush
  11. deal — to handle
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. mug — a face
  14. perch — the fish
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. track — a path
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. toast — bread
  20. game — a match
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. mug — to rob
  23. squash — the sport
  24. leaves — to go away

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