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 124 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. There's no middle ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. saw — the tool
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. wound — an injury
  8. bore — to drill
  9. lie — to recline
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. saw — the tool
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. toast — a drink to someone
  16. ground — the earth
  17. wound — an injury
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. bore — to tire
  21. ground — crushed
  22. toast — bread
  23. wound — past of 'wind'
  24. leaves — of a tree

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