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. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  24. Beijing is the ________________ of China.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. rock — a stone
  3. mark — a trace
  4. tube — the underground
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. track — to keep track
  8. track — a path
  9. capital — money
  10. rock — music
  11. cell — a phone
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. lie — to recline
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. track — a song
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. cell — in biology
  21. tube — a container
  22. mark — a grade
  23. capital — a big letter
  24. capital — a city

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