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: saw · chip · sharp · lie · rush · mark · toast · straw

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. chip — for betting
  3. lie — to recline
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. toast — bread
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. mark — a trace
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. straw — dry grass
  10. saw — the tool
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. straw — a straw man
  13. chip — to eat
  14. mark — a grade
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. sharp — clever
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. saw — the tool
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  24. rush — hurry

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