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 124 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. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. spring — a coil
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. pass — a permit
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. spring — the season
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. foot — a measure
  18. rush — hurry
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. lie — to recline
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. spring — of water

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