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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. press — a publisher
  3. foot — a measure
  4. hand — in cards
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. press — to push
  7. suit — in cards
  8. current — electric
  9. press — newspapers
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. key — for a lock
  15. current — of water
  16. hand — help
  17. current — happening now
  18. suit — to fit
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. key — the most important part
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. key — in music
  24. suit — clothes

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