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. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. mate — to breed
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. stand — to bear
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. mate — a partner
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. perch — the fish
  14. court — for sport
  15. mate — a friend
  16. lie — to recline
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. court — of law
  21. sharp — clever
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. court — of a king

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