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: arm · swing · toast · can · foot · coach · bowl · season

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. can — a tin
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. swing — in golf
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. swing — music
  8. season — in sport
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. swing — to play on
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. can — to be able to
  16. toast — bread
  17. foot — a measure
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. season — of the year
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. can — a tin
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. bowl — a dish

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