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 120 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. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. bulb — for light
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. mug — to rob
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. mug — a face
  10. bulb — for light
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. board — to get on
  13. wound — an injury
  14. band — a music group
  15. band — a ring
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. pass — a permit
  18. mug — a cup
  19. board — a committee
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. saw — the tool
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. saw — the tool

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