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 120 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. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. lie — to recline
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. current — electric
  6. game — wild animals
  7. current — of water
  8. mark — a grade
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. deal — to handle
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. current — happening now
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. game — a match
  19. snap — to click
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. mark — a trace
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. lean — thin
  24. lean — to bend

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