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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. tube — a container
  3. cue — a signal
  4. fine — high quality
  5. root — of a word
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. bass — low music
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. lie — to recline
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. cue — a hint
  12. rush — hurry
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. tube — the underground
  15. root — the cause
  16. bass — the fish
  17. cue — for pool
  18. root — of a plant
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. fine — all right
  24. arm — a part of something

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