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

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. cue — a signal
  5. chest — of your body
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. saw — the tool
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. chest — a box
  11. cue — a hint
  12. ground — crushed
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. chest — of your body
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. ground — a position
  18. ground — the earth
  19. saw — the tool
  20. toast — bread
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. cue — for pool
  24. vault — a safe

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