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. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Have you met the new head ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. staff — employees
  5. face — to confront
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. lie — to recline
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. net — in sport
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. face — part of the head
  13. mug — a face
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. net — for catching
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. mug — to rob
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. face — to point toward
  20. net — after costs
  21. staff — a stick
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. mug — a cup
  24. coach — a trainer

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