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. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. spring — a coil
  4. spell — magic
  5. suit — clothes
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. suit — to fit
  8. spell — a short time
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. sharp — clever
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. suit — in cards
  16. spring — the season
  17. rash — hasty
  18. spell — letters
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. spring — of water
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. rash — a series
  24. cabinet — ministers

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