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 120 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. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. mug — a face
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. pop — to visit
  8. foot — a measure
  9. tube — the underground
  10. tube — a container
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. perch — the fish
  14. mug — to rob
  15. pop — music
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. lie — to recline
  20. mug — a cup
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. pop — soda
  24. perch — for a bird

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