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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. wound — an injury
  3. bank — for money
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. fine — all right
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. wound — an injury
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. stem — to come from
  11. perch — the fish
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. bound — tied together
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. bound — obliged
  19. lie — to recline
  20. bank — of a river
  21. bank — for money
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. bound — certain
  24. toast — bread

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