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. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. clip — for paper
  2. charge — in control
  3. pop — to visit
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. clip — a video
  6. spell — a short time
  7. bore — to drill
  8. bore — to tire
  9. charge — a price
  10. spell — magic
  11. deal — to handle
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. lie — to recline
  14. pop — soda
  15. suit — in cards
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. suit — clothes
  18. spell — letters
  19. charge — electricity
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. suit — to fit
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. clip — to cut
  24. pop — music

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