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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. face — part of the head
  3. charge — electricity
  4. pop — soda
  5. firm — a company
  6. fine — high quality
  7. charge — a price
  8. rash — a series
  9. fine — all right
  10. face — to confront
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. firm — steady
  13. bark — of a tree
  14. rash — hasty
  15. bark — a dog's sound
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. charge — in control
  18. pop — music
  19. row — a line
  20. face — to point toward
  21. bark — to shout
  22. pop — to visit
  23. firm — decided
  24. fine — a penalty

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