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. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. Did you ________________ the meat?
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. mug — a face
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. face — to confront
  5. staff — a stick
  6. staff — employees
  7. spell — a short time
  8. staff — employees
  9. face — part of the head
  10. bore — to drill
  11. season — to add flavour
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. face — to point toward
  14. march — the month
  15. mug — to rob
  16. spell — letters
  17. season — in sport
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. march — the month
  20. march — music
  21. mug — a cup
  22. season — of the year
  23. bore — to tire
  24. lash — an eyelash

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