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: mine · stick · rash · rock · dip · season · jam · toast

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. toast — bread
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. season — in sport
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. dip — to sink
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. mine — for digging
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. rock — music
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. rash — hasty
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. rock — a stone
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. rash — a series

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