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 · saw · toast · suit · coach · march · nail · bass

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. My father caught me by the ________________.
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. saw — the tool
  4. toast — bread
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. march — the month
  11. saw — the tool
  12. suit — in cards
  13. bass — the fish
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. suit — to fit
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. march — music
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. march — the month
  22. suit — clothes
  23. bass — low music
  24. toast — a drink to someone

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