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: season · cell · jam · bowl · bound · pass · cabinet · hand

  1. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to succeed
  2. bound — obliged
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. cell — in biology
  6. hand — in cards
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. bound — certain
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. season — of the year
  14. season — in sport
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. hand — help
  21. pass — a permit
  22. bound — tied together
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. cell — a phone

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