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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. dip — to sink
  5. mark — a grade
  6. drill — army training
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. ball — a great time
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. kick — in football
  15. ball — a dance
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. foot — a measure
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. drill — a practice
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. drill — the tool
  23. mark — a trace
  24. arm — part of the body

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