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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. lean — thin
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. lean — to bend
  6. tube — the underground
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. staff — employees
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. tube — a container
  11. staff — a stick
  12. toast — bread
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. suit — to fit
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. rush — hurry
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. suit — in cards
  21. staff — employees
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. suit — clothes

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