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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: cabinet · patient · roll · toast · mouse · bark · hide · arm

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. bark — of a tree
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. roll — a cake
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. roll — a list
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. toast — bread
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. bark — to shout
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. mouse — the animal

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