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: rush · toast · date · stem · season · dip · racket · wake

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. He hit the ball with his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. season — of the year
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. wake — to stop sleeping
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. toast — bread
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. stem — to come from
  16. date — the fruit
  17. dip — to sink
  18. season — in sport
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. wake — a trail
  21. rush — hurry
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. racket — for tennis

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