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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. swing — in golf
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. rock — a stone
  6. cap — a hat
  7. swing — to play on
  8. cap — of ice
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. swing — music
  11. toast — bread
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. roll — a list
  14. rock — music
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. dip — to sink
  20. cap — a lid
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. roll — a cake
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. bowl — to roll

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