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: suit · bore · temple · saw · jam · dip · clip · stick

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Hold the papers together with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. suit — in cards
  3. suit — to fit
  4. bore — to drill
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. bore — to tire
  7. saw — the tool
  8. dip — to sink
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. suit — clothes
  15. clip — a video
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. saw — the tool
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. clip — to cut
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. clip — for paper

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