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 · dip · wave · capital · bulb · season · date · bank

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. season — in sport
  3. dip — to sink
  4. capital — money
  5. date — the fruit
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. capital — a big letter
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. bulb — for light
  12. wave — of the sea
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. bank — for money
  15. rash — hasty
  16. bank — for money
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. season — of the year
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. bank — of a river
  21. bulb — for light
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. capital — a city
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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