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 · fan · shower · saw · bore · stand · lie · key

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. key — the most important part
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. shower — rain
  5. key — in music
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. saw — the tool
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. stand — to bear
  13. key — for a lock
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. bore — to drill
  17. bore — to tire
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. saw — the tool
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. shower — to wash

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