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: can · spell · lie · jam · nail · net · stick · ball

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. net — for catching
  3. net — in sport
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. lie — to recline
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. ball — a dance
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. spell — letters
  11. can — to be able to
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. spell — a short time
  16. net — after costs
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. can — a tin
  19. ball — a great time
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. can — a tin
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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