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: arm · squash · bay · toast · mark · bass · safe · craft

  1. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — a handicraft
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. squash — the sport
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. toast — bread
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. craft — boats
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. squash — to crush
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. craft — a skill
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. bass — the fish
  20. mark — a trace
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. mark — a grade
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. bass — low music

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