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: spell · mark · degree · bear · rash · toast · charge · firm

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. rash — a series
  4. rash — hasty
  5. firm — steady
  6. spell — letters
  7. charge — in control
  8. spell — a short time
  9. charge — electricity
  10. degree — an amount
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. degree — temperature
  14. bear — the animal
  15. charge — a price
  16. firm — decided
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. spell — magic
  20. mark — a grade
  21. degree — from a university
  22. toast — bread
  23. firm — a company
  24. bear — the animal

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