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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. mark — a trace
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. date — the fruit
  7. mark — a grade
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. key — in music
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. lie — to recline
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. hand — help
  15. key — for a lock
  16. hand — in cards
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. last — to go on
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. last — final
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. last — finally
  24. key — the most important part

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