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. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. rock — music
  3. mug — a face
  4. face — part of the head
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. spell — magic
  7. face — to point toward
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. bat — the animal
  10. face — to confront
  11. bulb — for light
  12. bat — for baseball
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. board — to get on
  16. spell — a short time
  17. mug — to rob
  18. spell — letters
  19. board — a committee
  20. mug — a cup
  21. rock — a stone
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. rock — to move gently

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