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 · toast · stand · craft · last · fan · drill · rule

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. False peace will not ________________.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  7. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  21. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. last — to go on
  3. drill — army training
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. stand — to bear
  6. craft — boats
  7. rule — to rule out
  8. last — finally
  9. toast — bread
  10. craft — a skill
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. drill — the tool
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. last — final
  18. drill — a practice
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. rule — a law
  21. rule — government
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. lie — to recline
  24. craft — a handicraft

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