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. My mare is ________________ in color.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a horse colour
  2. mug — a face
  3. saw — the tool
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. key — in music
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. key — the most important part
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. kick — with a leg
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. mug — to rob
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. mug — a cup
  14. key — for a lock
  15. deal — to handle
  16. pound — a weight
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. saw — the tool
  19. pound — for dogs
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. kick — in football
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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