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. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. bat — for baseball
  3. firm — a company
  4. current — of water
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. hand — help
  10. bat — the animal
  11. hand — in cards
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. swing — music
  16. firm — steady
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. firm — decided
  19. swing — in golf
  20. current — electric
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. lie — to recline
  23. swing — to play on
  24. current — happening now

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