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: content · leaves · hide · jam · spell · bore · mug · court

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The ball is in your ________________.
  23. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. spell — magic
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. mug — a cup
  5. court — of law
  6. content — the amount
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. bore — to drill
  12. content — happy
  13. mug — a face
  14. spell — letters
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. mug — to rob
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. bore — to tire
  19. bore — gave birth
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. court — for sport
  23. court — of a king
  24. leaves — to go away

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