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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. march — the month
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. rest — what's left
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. march — the month
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. spell — a short time
  14. march — music
  15. toast — bread
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. rest — a break
  19. rest — what's left
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. spell — letters

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