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: roll · hand · face · arm · swing · lie · bay · mark

  1. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. David sat on the ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. swing — music
  4. face — to confront
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. roll — a list
  7. hand — help
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. roll — a cake
  14. hand — in cards
  15. mark — a trace
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. swing — in golf
  19. mark — a grade
  20. lie — to recline
  21. swing — to play on
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. face — to point toward

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