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. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  19. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. face — part of the head
  3. lie — to recline
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. fine — high quality
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. fine — all right
  8. root — the cause
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. face — to point toward
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. can — a tin
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. root — of a word
  19. face — to confront
  20. root — of a plant
  21. rush — hurry
  22. bear — the animal
  23. can — a tin
  24. rush — to hurry

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