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 ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. deal — to handle
  3. hand — in cards
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. dip — to sink
  6. mate — a partner
  7. roll — a list
  8. mate — to breed
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. wound — an injury
  12. wax — to grow
  13. stand — to bear
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. roll — a cake
  16. mate — a friend
  17. wound — an injury
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. hand — help
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. dip — to dunk

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