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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. deal — to handle
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. mate — a partner
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. lie — to recline
  14. bank — for money
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. band — a ring
  17. band — a music group
  18. bank — of a river
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. mate — a friend
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. bank — for money
  24. leaves — lets stay

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