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: season · can · squash · foot · pop · hide · dip · bay

  1. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. squash — to crush
  3. pop — music
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. can — a tin
  7. squash — the sport
  8. can — to be able to
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. can — a tin
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. dip — to sink
  16. pop — soda
  17. season — of the year
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. foot — a measure
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. pop — to visit
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. season — in sport

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