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: rock · can · lie · cell · cap · trunk · chip · roll

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  3. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. We're on a ________________ here.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  8. He was locked up in a ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. cap — of ice
  3. trunk — of an elephant
  4. roll — a list
  5. roll — on a roll
  6. lie — to recline
  7. roll — a cake
  8. cell — in a prison
  9. can — a tin
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. can — to be able to
  12. rock — music
  13. can — a tin
  14. rock — a stone
  15. cap — a lid
  16. cell — a phone
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. cap — a hat
  22. cell — in biology
  23. chip — to eat
  24. chip — for betting

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