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 would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. suit — clothes
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. sharp — clever
  6. suit — in cards
  7. current — of water
  8. current — electric
  9. bound — obliged
  10. mate — a partner
  11. suit — to fit
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. mate — a friend
  14. bound — tied together
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. mate — to breed
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. current — happening now
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. bound — certain
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. toast — bread
  24. pitcher — a jug

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