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 120 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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. stock — shares
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. cue — for pool
  10. bass — the fish
  11. bear — the animal
  12. stock — goods
  13. branch — a division
  14. bass — low music
  15. cue — a signal
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. ball — a dance
  19. bear — the animal
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. cue — a hint
  24. ball — a round shape

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