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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. ball — a dance
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. bound — tied together
  6. bound — obliged
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. bound — certain
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. staff — a stick
  11. date — the fruit
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. staff — employees
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. roll — a list
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. ball — a great time
  18. staff — employees
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. roll — a cake
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. ball — a round shape

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