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: leaves · date · toast · nail · arm · pitch · mark · dip

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. pitch — completely
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. date — the fruit
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. mark — a trace
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. toast — bread
  23. dip — to sink
  24. mark — a grade

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