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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. object — a thing
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. bore — to drill
  5. face — part of the head
  6. object — to protest
  7. object — an aim
  8. net — after costs
  9. face — to point toward
  10. game — a match
  11. stand — to bear
  12. net — for catching
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. game — a kind of play
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. season — of the year
  19. net — in sport
  20. season — in sport
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. bore — to tire
  24. game — wild animals

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