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: suit · bark · date · mouse · pitch · tube · mark · toast

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. mark — a grade
  3. bark — to shout
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. suit — to fit
  7. suit — in cards
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. tube — the underground
  11. suit — clothes
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. toast — bread
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. bark — a dog's sound
  19. date — the fruit
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. tube — a container
  24. pitch — completely

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