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: present · pound · fine · arm · hide · cabinet · saw · nail

  1. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. saw — the tool
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. pound — a weight
  12. saw — the tool
  13. present — the time now
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. pound — to hit hard
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. present — there
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. fine — all right
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. fine — high quality
  24. present — a gift

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