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 am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  6. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — a sudden rise
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. roll — a list
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. shower — rain
  6. shower — to wash
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bound — certain
  9. rest — a break
  10. rest — what's left
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. court — for sport
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. court — of law
  16. rest — what's left
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. court — of a king
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. roll — a cake
  24. bound — obliged

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