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: pit · chair · mug · perch · toast · bowl · hide · bay

  1. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a football final
  2. pit — in a race
  3. mug — to rob
  4. perch — the fish
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. toast — bread
  7. chair — a professorship
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. pit — a hole
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. mug — a cup
  15. chair — a leader
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. mug — a face
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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