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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. I'll be taking the ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  23. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. bear — the animal
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. bear — the animal
  6. mate — a partner
  7. cap — of ice
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. cap — a hat
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. tube — the underground
  16. ball — a great time
  17. ball — a dance
  18. rush — hurry
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. cap — a lid
  23. tube — a container
  24. mate — a friend

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