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 always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. How do you ________________ your surname?
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. spell — magic
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. spell — letters
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. net — for catching
  9. cue — for pool
  10. net — after costs
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. lie — to recline
  13. cue — a signal
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. rush — hurry
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bass — the fish
  18. cue — a hint
  19. pass — a permit
  20. bass — low music
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. stem — to come from
  23. spell — a short time
  24. net — in sport

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