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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. vault — a safe
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. firm — decided
  5. bark — to shout
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. rush — hurry
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. bark — a dog's sound
  12. firm — a company
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. firm — steady
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. spring — the season
  21. chip — to eat
  22. spring — of water
  23. spring — a coil
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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