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 116 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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. cue — for pool
  3. row — a line
  4. stock — shares
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. fork — in a road
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. cue — a signal
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. rock — music
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. lie — to recline
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. rock — a stone
  20. stock — goods
  21. fork — a garden tool
  22. cue — a hint
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. row — to paddle

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