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. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  15. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. snap — to click
  4. firm — decided
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. mark — a grade
  10. roll — a cake
  11. rule — to rule out
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. firm — steady
  14. rule — government
  15. firm — a company
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. mark — a trace
  18. sharp — clever
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. roll — a list
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. rule — a law
  24. roll — on a roll

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