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: present · lie · pop · jam · dip · object · date · pass

  1. Have you settled on a ________________?
  2. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. date — on the calendar
  2. object — an aim
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. pop — music
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. dip — to sink
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. object — a thing
  10. pass — a permit
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. pop — soda
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. present — there
  15. lie — to recline
  16. present — the time now
  17. pop — to visit
  18. date — the fruit
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. object — to protest
  22. present — a gift
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. dip — to dunk

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