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 · ruler · lie · arm · can · straw · leaves · rash

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. lie — to recline
  4. can — to be able to
  5. saw — the tool
  6. rash — a series
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. straw — to clutch at straws
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. rash — hasty
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. can — a tin
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. saw — the tool
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. can — a tin
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. arm — part of the body

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