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. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to dunk
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. object — an aim
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. object — to protest
  13. rash — a series
  14. staff — a stick
  15. staff — employees
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. object — a thing
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. rash — hasty
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. dip — to sink
  24. staff — employees

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