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. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. sharp — clever
  3. land — a country
  4. row — to paddle
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. date — the fruit
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. land — to come down
  12. row — a line
  13. land — ground
  14. mate — a partner
  15. charge — in control
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. charge — a price
  19. lie — to recline
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. mate — to breed
  23. charge — electricity
  24. mate — a friend

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