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. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.

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

Answer key

  1. tear — from crying
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. can — a tin
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. tear — to rip
  9. can — to be able to
  10. rash — hasty
  11. can — a tin
  12. foot — a measure
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. bulb — for light
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. cap — a lid
  20. toast — bread
  21. cap — a hat
  22. cap — of ice
  23. rash — a series
  24. tear — from crying

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