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: pop · band · pass · field · pit · toast · calf · deal

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. band — a ring
  4. pop — soda
  5. field — a subject
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. pop — to visit
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. pass — a permit
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. pit — a hole
  12. pit — in a race
  13. deal — to handle
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. field — farmland
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. band — a music group
  20. field — for sport
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. pop — music
  24. toast — bread

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