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 120 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: wind · firm · lie · sharp · nail · file · mug · deal

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  24. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. sharp — clever
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. file — a line of people
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. file — a document
  9. deal — to handle
  10. lie — to recline
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. mug — a cup
  13. file — a tool
  14. wind — to turn a key
  15. mug — to rob
  16. mug — a face
  17. firm — a company
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. firm — decided
  22. firm — steady
  23. wind — moving air
  24. wind — moving air

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