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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. board — a committee
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. staff — a stick
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bound — certain
  10. bound — tied together
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. bound — obliged
  17. staff — employees
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. rash — a series
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. sharp — clever
  22. board — to get on
  23. rash — hasty
  24. lie — to recline

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