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: toast · pound · coach · saw · band · mate · firm · bulb

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. firm — a company
  3. mate — to breed
  4. firm — steady
  5. toast — bread
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. bulb — for light
  10. saw — the tool
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bulb — for light
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. mate — a partner
  16. band — a ring
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. saw — the tool
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. firm — decided
  23. band — a music group
  24. mate — a friend

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