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: spell · hide · board · stand · roll · file · lie · bay

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. board — to get on
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. stand — to bear
  11. roll — a cake
  12. spell — a short time
  13. file — a tool
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. file — a document
  16. file — a line of people
  17. spell — letters
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. board — a committee
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. spell — magic
  24. roll — a list

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