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: rash · bowl · rest · sharp · bound · field · mark · mouse

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bound — obliged
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. bound — certain
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. bowl — a football final
  7. mark — a trace
  8. sharp — clever
  9. rash — hasty
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. field — for sport
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. field — a subject
  15. field — farmland
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. rest — a break
  18. rest — what's left
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mark — a grade
  21. rash — a series
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. rest — what's left
  24. bowl — to roll

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