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: can · chip · bore · spell · jam · content · season · rush

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. spell — a short time
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. bore — to drill
  7. can — a tin
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. can — to be able to
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. content — the amount
  12. chip — for betting
  13. spell — magic
  14. rush — hurry
  15. chip — to eat
  16. can — a tin
  17. season — of the year
  18. content — happy
  19. spell — letters
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. season — in sport
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. bore — to tire
  24. content — videos and posts

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