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 116 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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. dip — to sink
  3. board — a committee
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. face — part of the head
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. saw — the tool
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. face — to point toward
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. rock — a stone
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. board — to get on
  17. lean — thin
  18. lean — to bend
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. dip — to dunk
  21. saw — the tool
  22. face — to confront
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. rock — music

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