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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. rash — a series
  3. suit — clothes
  4. face — part of the head
  5. rash — hasty
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. suit — in cards
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. bear — the animal
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. mark — a grade
  14. suit — to fit
  15. mark — a trace
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. face — to confront
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. mine — for digging
  20. bear — the animal
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. face — to point toward
  24. racket — a loud noise

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