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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. tube — a container
  4. tube — the underground
  5. track — a song
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. lie — to recline
  10. can — a tin
  11. tube — in a tire
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. wake — a trail
  14. track — a path
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. track — to keep track
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. can — to be able to
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. can — a tin

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