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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. False peace will not ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. spring — the season
  4. last — to go on
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. cue — for pool
  8. spring — of water
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. last — final
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mark — a grade
  13. spring — a coil
  14. cue — a signal
  15. mark — a trace
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. tube — the underground
  19. tube — a container
  20. last — finally
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. lie — to recline
  24. cue — a hint

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