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 hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. rash — a series
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. stock — goods
  7. foot — a measure
  8. toast — bread
  9. rash — hasty
  10. land — to come down
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. press — to push
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. stock — shares
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. land — a country
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. press — newspapers
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. press — a publisher
  24. land — ground

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