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: mug · bulb · leaves · fan · staff · deal · content · lie

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. mug — a face
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. content — videos and posts
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. bulb — for light
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. lie — to recline
  12. content — happy
  13. mug — to rob
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. staff — employees
  17. mug — a cup
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. content — the amount
  20. staff — employees
  21. staff — a stick
  22. bulb — for light
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. deal — to handle

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