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 120 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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. The ________________ market has crashed.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. shower — a meteor shower
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. foot — a measure
  5. deal — to handle
  6. stock — goods
  7. foot — part of the body
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. rock — a stone
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. shower — to wash
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. shower — rain
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. rush — hurry
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. stock — shares
  20. rock — music
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. lash — to lash out

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