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: mine · trunk · dip · suit · lie · nail · ruler · date

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. The elephant has a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. suit — in cards
  5. mine — for digging
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. dip — to sink
  8. date — the fruit
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. suit — to fit
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. suit — clothes
  15. trunk — of a tree
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. lie — to recline
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. trunk — of an elephant

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