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. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. David sat on the ________________.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. hand — in cards
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. swing — to play on
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. swing — in golf
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. mark — a grade
  13. mark — a trace
  14. hand — help
  15. patient — calm and waiting
  16. plane — a tool
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. swing — music
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. dip — a sauce

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