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. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  17. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. race — a contest
  2. mug — a face
  3. face — to point toward
  4. face — to confront
  5. saw — the tool
  6. race — the arms race
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. bound — tied together
  9. trunk — of a car
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. can — to be able to
  12. fine — high quality
  13. mug — to rob
  14. face — part of the head
  15. can — a tin
  16. trunk — of an elephant
  17. race — humankind
  18. mug — a cup
  19. bound — obliged
  20. saw — the tool
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. can — a tin
  23. fine — all right
  24. bound — certain

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