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. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. mark — a grade
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. bore — to tire
  5. lean — to bend
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. ground — a position
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. rush — hurry
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. cue — for pool
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. ground — the earth
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. cue — a signal
  16. cue — a hint
  17. lean — thin
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. ground — crushed
  20. date — the fruit
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. mark — a trace
  24. lean — to rest against

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