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 116 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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. False peace will not ________________.
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. rush — hurry
  3. last — finally
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. swing — in golf
  7. suit — clothes
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. object — an aim
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. last — to go on
  12. object — to protest
  13. swing — music
  14. suit — to fit
  15. sharp — clever
  16. suit — in cards
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. last — final
  22. swing — to play on
  23. rock — music
  24. rock — a stone

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