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: net · rush · bay · lie · vault · squash · suit · ball

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. suit — clothes
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. suit — to fit
  6. net — after costs
  7. suit — in cards
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. vault — a safe
  10. vault — an arched ceiling
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. vault — in gymnastics
  15. ball — a dance
  16. squash — to crush
  17. net — for catching
  18. rush — hurry
  19. net — in sport
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. squash — the sport
  23. lie — to recline
  24. squash — the vegetable

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