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: trunk · mouse · bear · bass · rush · cabinet · toast · chip

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bear — the animal
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. toast — bread
  5. bass — the fish
  6. trunk — of a tree
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. rush — hurry
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. bass — low music
  23. chip — to eat
  24. chip — for betting

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