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. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  2. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to speak sharply
  2. racket — a loud noise
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. key — in music
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. lie — to recline
  10. bear — the animal
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. mine — for digging
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. bear — the animal
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. key — for a lock
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. snap — to click
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. key — the most important part

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