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: toast · band · bank · rock · season · scale · rule · hide

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. bank — for money
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. season — of the year
  5. season — in sport
  6. rock — music
  7. scale — in music
  8. band — a music group
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. toast — bread
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. bank — for money
  15. scale — size or range
  16. rock — a stone
  17. rule — government
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. rule — a law
  21. bank — of a river
  22. rule — to rule out
  23. band — a ring
  24. toast — the most admired

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