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: face · bear · jam · toast · mark · patient · cabinet · roll

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. roll — a list
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. bear — the animal
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. face — to confront
  10. face — to point toward
  11. mark — a grade
  12. roll — a cake
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. toast — bread
  18. face — part of the head
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. bear — the animal
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. mark — a trace
  24. jam — in traffic

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