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. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. hand — in cards
  4. fall — to drop
  5. mark — a trace
  6. face — part of the head
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. fall — the season
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. face — to confront
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. pass — a permit
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. fall — to drop
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. face — to point toward
  18. mark — a grade
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. hand — help
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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