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 116 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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. bore — to tire
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. bore — to drill
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bear — the animal
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. fine — all right
  12. bear — the animal
  13. wake — a trail
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. wake — before a funeral
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. fine — high quality
  19. mate — a friend
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. mate — a partner
  22. plane — a tool
  23. mate — to breed
  24. dip — to sink

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