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 120 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: ground · suit · row · arm · mate · mug · present · sharp

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. ground — the earth
  3. row — a line
  4. mate — to breed
  5. row — to paddle
  6. present — the time now
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. mate — a partner
  9. present — a gift
  10. suit — to fit
  11. mug — a face
  12. mate — a friend
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. mug — to rob
  15. present — there
  16. ground — crushed
  17. row — a quarrel
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. ground — a position
  22. mug — a cup
  23. sharp — clever
  24. suit — in cards

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