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: hide · band · wound · spell · racket · suit · wind · jam

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. suit — clothes
  4. suit — to fit
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. spell — letters
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. suit — in cards
  9. band — a ring
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. spell — magic
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. band — a music group
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. spell — a short time
  18. wound — an injury
  19. wound — an injury
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. wind — moving air
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. wind — moving air

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