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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: pass · racket · jam · dip · wake · bound

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. racket — for tennis
  3. wake — a trail
  4. bound — certain
  5. dip — to sink
  6. bound — obliged
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. pass — a permit
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. racket — a loud noise
  17. bound — tied together
  18. racket — for tennis

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