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: rush · toast · jam · hide · bound · lean · bore · craft

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. craft — a skill
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. toast — bread
  11. bound — obliged
  12. rush — hurry
  13. bound — tied together
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. lean — thin
  16. bore — to tire
  17. craft — boats
  18. lean — to bend
  19. craft — a handicraft
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. bound — certain
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. bore — to drill

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