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: dip · nail · bear · rock · ball · toast · kid · squash

  1. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — the vegetable
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. rock — music
  4. rock — a stone
  5. squash — the sport
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. bear — the animal
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. bear — the animal
  11. squash — to crush
  12. ball — a dance
  13. nail — on a finger
  14. kid — to tease
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. dip — to sink
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. toast — bread
  22. kid — child
  23. ball — a great time
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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