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: lie · saw · bay · clip · pass · fall · coach · fan

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  20. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. lie — to recline
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. clip — to cut
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. fall — to drop
  12. saw — the tool
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. saw — the tool
  15. pass — a permit
  16. clip — a video
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. clip — for paper
  20. fall — to drop
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. fall — the season
  24. pass — to succeed

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