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 116 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: leaves · suit · can · swing · rest · ball · bat · squash

  1. The King held a masked ________________.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a dance
  2. swing — music
  3. ball — a great time
  4. bat — in an idiom
  5. rest — a break
  6. can — to be able to
  7. rest — what's left
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. suit — to fit
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. rest — what's left
  13. bat — the animal
  14. suit — clothes
  15. swing — to play on
  16. can — a tin
  17. bat — for baseball
  18. swing — in golf
  19. can — a tin
  20. suit — in cards
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. squash — to crush
  23. squash — the sport
  24. squash — the vegetable

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