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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bound — obliged
  6. rash — a series
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. squash — to crush
  11. rock — music
  12. bound — certain
  13. rash — hasty
  14. rock — a stone
  15. saw — the tool
  16. shower — to wash
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bound — tied together
  21. squash — the sport
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. shower — rain
  24. rock — to move gently

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