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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. bear — the animal
  5. season — in sport
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. bear — the animal
  10. mark — a grade
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. hand — in cards
  13. hand — help
  14. tube — the underground
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. tube — a container
  17. mark — a trace
  18. rush — hurry
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. season — of the year
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. lash — to lash out

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