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: bore · bound · foot · lie · dip · mouse · mark · file

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  22. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. bore — to drill
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. bound — certain
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. file — a document
  7. bore — to tire
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bore — gave birth
  13. foot — a measure
  14. mark — a grade
  15. dip — to dunk
  16. mark — a trace
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. dip — to sink
  21. file — a tool
  22. file — a line of people
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. foot — the bottom

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