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. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. firm — decided
  3. mark — a trace
  4. game — wild animals
  5. firm — steady
  6. firm — a company
  7. roll — a cake
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bound — certain
  10. toast — bread
  11. date — the fruit
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. roll — a list
  14. deal — to handle
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. mark — a grade
  18. game — a match
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. bound — tied together
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. deal — a big deal
  24. mark — to pay attention

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