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. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. firm — decided
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. season — of the year
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. vault — an arched ceiling
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. rash — a series
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. firm — a company
  12. spell — letters
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. rush — hurry
  16. season — in sport
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. spell — magic
  19. rash — hasty
  20. spell — a short time
  21. vault — a safe
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. rush — a thrill

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