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. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the sport
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. suit — clothes
  4. swing — in golf
  5. suit — in cards
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. bore — to drill
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. bore — to tire
  18. squash — to crush
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. swing — to play on
  21. suit — to fit
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. swing — music
  24. patient — a sick person

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