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: jam · squash · toast · rash · land · bay · race · craft

  1. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — ground
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. race — the arms race
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. race — a contest
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. toast — bread
  9. rash — hasty
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. land — to come down
  13. land — a country
  14. squash — the vegetable
  15. squash — to crush
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. squash — the sport
  18. rash — a series
  19. craft — a skill
  20. craft — boats
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. race — humankind
  24. rash — on the skin

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