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. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. chair — a professorship
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. mark — a grade
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. pitch — completely
  8. season — in sport
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. toast — bread
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. chair — to sit on
  16. season — of the year
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. mark — a trace
  24. chair — a leader

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