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 120 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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. season — in sport
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. branch — a division
  7. bore — to drill
  8. saw — the tool
  9. season — of the year
  10. saw — the tool
  11. bore — to tire
  12. shower — to wash
  13. mate — a friend
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. lie — to recline
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. mate — a partner
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. mate — to breed
  24. shower — rain

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