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: suit · fine · toast · roll · bark · date · bass · kick

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. suit — in cards
  5. fine — all right
  6. kick — in football
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. roll — a list
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. suit — clothes
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bass — the fish
  14. kick — a thrill
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. date — the fruit
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. toast — bread
  19. fine — high quality
  20. suit — to fit
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. bass — low music
  23. roll — a cake
  24. bark — of a tree

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