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. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. hand — help
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. ball — a great time
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. ball — a dance
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. chip — to eat
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. bore — to drill
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. hand — in cards
  17. chip — for betting
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. bore — to tire
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. rush — hurry
  22. chair — a leader
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. chair — to sit on

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