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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. dip — to sink
  4. firm — decided
  5. saw — the tool
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. shower — to wash
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. bear — the animal
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. bear — the animal
  16. shower — rain
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. firm — steady
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. firm — a company
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. saw — the tool

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