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: bound · scale · lie · racket · capital · foot · mug · hide

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. capital — a city
  3. lie — to recline
  4. scale — size or range
  5. mug — to rob
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. capital — money
  8. bound — tied together
  9. scale — in music
  10. bound — obliged
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. mug — a face
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. foot — a measure
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. capital — a big letter
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. bound — certain
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. mug — a cup

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