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 116 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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. can — to be able to
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. lie — to recline
  8. board — a committee
  9. root — of a plant
  10. can — a tin
  11. sharp — clever
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bank — for money
  15. root — of a word
  16. root — the cause
  17. bank — for money
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. bulb — for light
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. board — to get on
  23. bank — of a river
  24. lie — an untruth

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