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: wound · row · cap · lie · key · current · rush · season

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. season — of the year
  4. current — electric
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. key — in music
  7. key — for a lock
  8. rush — hurry
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. lie — to recline
  12. cap — a hat
  13. current — happening now
  14. row — to paddle
  15. cap — of ice
  16. row — a line
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. wound — an injury
  19. season — in sport
  20. wound — an injury
  21. key — the most important part
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. current — of water
  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