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. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. bear — the animal
  4. spell — magic
  5. suit — clothes
  6. file — a tool
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. bear — the animal
  9. rest — a break
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. rest — what's left
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. suit — in cards
  14. rush — hurry
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. spell — a short time
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. lie — to recline
  19. file — a line of people
  20. spell — letters
  21. suit — to fit
  22. rest — what's left
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. rush — to hurry

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