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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. rush — hurry
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. spell — a short time
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. snap — to click
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. roll — a cake
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. roll — a list
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. spell — magic
  21. spell — letters
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. fan — a supporter

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