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 ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  2. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  3. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. patient — a sick person
  2. fall — to drop
  3. patient — calm and waiting
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. fall — to drop
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. fork — in a road
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. roll — a cake
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. lean — to bend
  17. roll — a list
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. fall — the season
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. lean — thin
  24. temple — a place of worship

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