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. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. rash — a series
  5. bark — of a tree
  6. rule — government
  7. rule — a law
  8. can — to be able to
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. bark — to shout
  13. rash — hasty
  14. toast — bread
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. can — a tin
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. rule — to rule out
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. can — a tin
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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