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 reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. bound — obliged
  4. mug — to rob
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. craft — a skill
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. craft — boats
  11. mug — a face
  12. toast — bread
  13. pop — to visit
  14. roll — a list
  15. mug — a cup
  16. bound — certain
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. pop — music
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. dip — to sink
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. pop — soda
  23. roll — a cake
  24. coach — a trainer

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