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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. bound — tied together
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. bound — certain
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. bound — obliged
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. mine — for digging
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. perch — the fish
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. rock — music
  24. lie — to recline

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