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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. He took the fish out of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. can — a tin
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. mine — for digging
  8. swing — to play on
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. mine — an explosive
  11. rash — a series
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. net — in sport
  14. can — to be able to
  15. net — after costs
  16. rash — hasty
  17. swing — in golf
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. can — a tin
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. net — for catching

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