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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. tear — from crying
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. tear — to rip
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. current — happening now
  11. lie — to recline
  12. ground — crushed
  13. current — electric
  14. toast — bread
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. ground — a position
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. tear — from crying
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. current — of water
  24. nail — for a hammer

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