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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. row — a line
  3. row — to paddle
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. wind — to turn a key
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. bank — for money
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bass — low music
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. wind — moving air
  14. stand — to bear
  15. fine — high quality
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. fine — all right
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. bass — the fish
  20. hide — animal skin
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. bank — for money
  23. wind — moving air
  24. stand — on your feet

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