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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. bank — of a river
  4. lie — to recline
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. mug — to rob
  7. land — ground
  8. bank — for money
  9. land — a country
  10. net — for catching
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. net — after costs
  14. net — in sport
  15. toast — bread
  16. bank — for money
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. land — to come down
  19. rash — a series
  20. rash — hasty
  21. patient — calm and waiting
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. mug — a face

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