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. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. lean — to bend
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. toast — bread
  12. chest — a box
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. lean — thin
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. vault — a safe
  17. lean — to rest against
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. season — of the year
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. chest — of your body
  23. fork — in a road
  24. season — in sport

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