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: bat · bank · leaves · suit · band · toast · spell · mate

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. suit — clothes
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. spell — letters
  5. band — a music group
  6. bank — for money
  7. suit — to fit
  8. mate — to breed
  9. band — a ring
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. bat — for baseball
  13. suit — in cards
  14. mate — a friend
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. bank — of a river
  18. toast — bread
  19. bank — for money
  20. spell — magic
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. bat — the animal
  24. mate — a partner

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