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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. last — to go on
  4. craft — boats
  5. last — finally
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. lie — to recline
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. pit — a hole
  11. pit — in a race
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. craft — a skill
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. last — final
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. craft — a handicraft
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. wake — a trail
  24. mark — a trace

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