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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. kick — in football
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. sharp — clever
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. deal — to handle
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. lie — to recline
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. saw — the tool
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. date — the fruit
  19. saw — the tool
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. lie — an untruth

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