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. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. season — in sport
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. rock — music
  6. bass — the fish
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. season — of the year
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. file — a document
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. foot — a measure
  16. rock — a stone
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. file — a tool
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. pass — a permit
  23. file — a line of people
  24. bass — low music

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