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 116 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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. current — electric
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. sharp — clever
  5. firm — steady
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. firm — a company
  8. cue — for pool
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. lie — to recline
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. current — of water
  13. content — happy
  14. content — videos and posts
  15. firm — decided
  16. file — a tool
  17. cue — a hint
  18. file — a line of people
  19. file — a document
  20. cue — a signal
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. content — the amount
  23. current — happening now
  24. lie — an untruth

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