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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  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. pit — in a race
  2. land — to come down
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. rush — hurry
  5. mug — a face
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. mug — to rob
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. date — the fruit
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. mug — a cup
  20. pit — a hole
  21. land — ground
  22. land — a country
  23. ruler — a monarch
  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