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: last · stand · bound · pass · squash · season · net · pitcher

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. False peace will not ________________.
  7. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. bound — obliged
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. net — after costs
  6. last — to go on
  7. last — finally
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. net — in sport
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. bound — tied together
  14. last — final
  15. net — for catching
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. season — of the year
  19. squash — to crush
  20. bound — certain
  21. stand — to bear
  22. squash — the sport
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. season — in sport

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