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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. stem — to come from
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. stem — of a plant
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. suit — to fit
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. file — a tool
  9. file — a line of people
  10. suit — in cards
  11. deal — to handle
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. mate — to breed
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. straw — dry grass
  16. suit — clothes
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. mate — a partner
  21. mate — a friend
  22. straw — to clutch at straws
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. file — a document

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