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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. lie — to recline
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. present — the time now
  5. sharp — clever
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. bulb — for light
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. firm — decided
  13. toast — bread
  14. rush — hurry
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. bulb — for light
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. firm — a company
  21. present — there
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. firm — steady
  24. present — a gift

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