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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. I can't ________________ this cold.
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. stand — to bear
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. ball — a dance
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. sharp — clever
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. pound — a weight
  10. lie — to recline
  11. pound — for dogs
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. ground — the earth
  14. ground — crushed
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. saw — the tool
  17. ground — a position
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. board — to get on
  20. ball — a great time
  21. board — a committee
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. pound — to hit hard

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