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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. fine — all right
  4. key — the most important part
  5. fall — to drop
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. key — for a lock
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. rash — a series
  10. rash — hasty
  11. current — happening now
  12. board — a committee
  13. fine — high quality
  14. fall — the season
  15. lie — to recline
  16. fall — to drop
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. current — of water
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. current — electric
  22. key — in music
  23. branch — a division
  24. board — to get 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