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 116 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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. ball — a great time
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. firm — steady
  8. bank — of a river
  9. firm — decided
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pass — a permit
  12. squash — the sport
  13. board — a committee
  14. squash — to crush
  15. board — to get on
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. bank — for money
  18. rock — a stone
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. rock — music
  21. bank — for money
  22. firm — a company
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. ball — a dance

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