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: bass · season · leaves · bay · pass · saw · bowl · mug

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. bass — low music
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. saw — the tool
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. saw — the tool
  8. mug — a face
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. mug — a cup
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. season — in sport
  16. pass — a permit
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. mug — to rob
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. bass — the fish
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. leaves — lets stay

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