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. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. mug — a cup
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. drill — the tool
  8. mug — to rob
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. drill — army training
  11. land — to come down
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. land — ground
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. drill — a practice
  24. mug — a face

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