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. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. date — the fruit
  3. mug — a face
  4. row — to paddle
  5. net — after costs
  6. mark — a grade
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. net — in sport
  9. mug — to rob
  10. fall — the season
  11. prune — to trim
  12. lie — to recline
  13. fall — to drop
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. fall — to drop
  18. mug — a cup
  19. row — a line
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. prune — to trim
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. net — for catching

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