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. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. saw — the tool
  4. face — to point toward
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. sharp — clever
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. pass — a permit
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. saw — the tool
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. face — part of the head
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. rush — hurry
  24. face — to confront

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