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 116 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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for dancing
  2. season — in sport
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. dip — to sink
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. fine — high quality
  13. fine — all right
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. lie — to recline
  16. chip — for betting
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. rush — hurry
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. season — of the year
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. club — for golf
  23. club — a group
  24. chip — to eat

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