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 116 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: straw · pass · rash · pit · fork · spell · deal · lie

  1. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. spell — letters
  4. pass — a permit
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. rash — hasty
  9. spell — magic
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. fork — in a road
  13. straw — dry grass
  14. deal — to handle
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. rash — a series
  17. lie — to recline
  18. spell — a short time
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. pit — in a race
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. pit — a hole

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