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 ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Have you met the new head ________________?
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. bulb — for light
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. pass — a permit
  7. face — to confront
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. band — a ring
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. face — part of the head
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. band — a music group
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. rush — hurry
  20. face — to point toward
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. lie — to recline
  23. pass — to spend time
  24. foot — a measure

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