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: bound · squash · drill · foot · stick · kid · leaves · mug

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. foot — a measure
  3. bound — tied together
  4. mug — to rob
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. kid — child
  9. squash — the sport
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. mug — a face
  12. drill — a practice
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. mug — a cup
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. drill — the tool
  18. bound — certain
  19. bound — obliged
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. squash — the vegetable
  23. drill — army training
  24. kid — to tease

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