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: safe · bass · season · racket · game · toast · sharp · bound

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  22. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. bass — the fish
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. bound — certain
  7. sharp — clever
  8. game — wild animals
  9. toast — bread
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. bound — tied together
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. game — a match
  19. bass — low music
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. season — of the year
  22. season — in sport
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bound — obliged

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