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: mark · bat · game · fine · pitcher · toast · staff · mug

  1. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  2. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — bread
  2. bat — for baseball
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. mug — to rob
  5. staff — a stick
  6. bat — in an idiom
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. fine — high quality
  9. mark — a trace
  10. mark — a grade
  11. fine — all right
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. game — a match
  14. game — wild animals
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. bat — the animal
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. staff — employees
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. mug — a cup
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. staff — employees
  24. mug — a face

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