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: straw · present · ball · stick · toast · foot · charge · date

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. charge — in control
  8. ball — a dance
  9. charge — a price
  10. present — a gift
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. toast — bread
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. date — the fruit
  15. present — there
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. charge — electricity
  19. ball — a great time
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. present — the time now
  22. foot — a measure
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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