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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. charge — in control
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. club — for golf
  5. rock — music
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. club — for dancing
  10. staff — employees
  11. club — a group
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. charge — a price
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. staff — a stick
  17. lie — to recline
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. charge — electricity
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. dip — to sink
  23. rock — a stone
  24. fan — to cool the air

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