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. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. ball — a great time
  9. content — happy
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. sharp — clever
  12. charge — in control
  13. charge — a price
  14. content — the amount
  15. charge — electricity
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. board — a committee
  19. content — videos and posts
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. board — to get on
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. ball — a dance
  24. lash — an eyelash

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