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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. sharp — clever
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. rash — hasty
  10. cap — a lid
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. cap — a hat
  15. rash — a series
  16. cap — of ice
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. sharp — exactly

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