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: foot · ruler · last · capital · lie · deal · jam · mug

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. False peace will not ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  24. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. lie — to recline
  3. deal — an agreement
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. last — to go on
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. last — final
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. mug — a cup
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. capital — a city
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. foot — a measure
  19. mug — to rob
  20. capital — money
  21. mug — a face
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. last — finally
  24. capital — a big letter

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