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: sharp · face · arm · season · rock · pass · stand · scale

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. pass — a permit
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. rock — music
  7. scale — in music
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. face — to confront
  11. stand — to bear
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. rock — a stone
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. sharp — clever
  18. face — to point toward
  19. season — of the year
  20. face — part of the head
  21. season — in sport
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. arm — part of the body

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