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 120 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 polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. cap — of ice
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. mate — a partner
  5. lie — to recline
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. foot — a measure
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. spring — of water
  10. cap — a lid
  11. mate — a friend
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. spring — a coil
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. spring — the season
  17. bay — a part of the sea
  18. cap — a hat
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. mate — to breed

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