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: game · lie · object · root · face · mug · hide · leaves

  1. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. root — of a plant
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. object — a thing
  4. mug — to rob
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. game — wild animals
  7. mug — a face
  8. game — a match
  9. face — to confront
  10. root — of a word
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. face — to point toward
  16. object — an aim
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. lie — to recline
  19. face — part of the head
  20. object — to protest
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. mug — a cup
  23. root — the cause
  24. lie — an untruth

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