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: kick · roll · wax · drill · game · pass · lie · deal

  1. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. That was a fun ________________.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — in football
  2. drill — army training
  3. roll — a cake
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. drill — a practice
  7. game — wild animals
  8. deal — to handle
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. roll — a list
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. kick — with a leg
  16. wax — to grow
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. game — a match
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. drill — the tool
  21. lie — to recline
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. kick — a thrill
  24. pass — a permit

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