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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. can — a tin
  4. face — part of the head
  5. wound — an injury
  6. rock — music
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. face — to point toward
  11. can — a tin
  12. rush — hurry
  13. face — to confront
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. wound — an injury
  16. fork — a garden tool
  17. rock — a stone
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. wound — past of 'wind'
  21. rest — what's left
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. rest — a break
  24. rest — what's left

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