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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. I can't ________________ this cold.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. track — a song
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. track — to keep track
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. hand — in cards
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. can — a tin
  12. hand — help
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. board — to get on
  15. can — to be able to
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. board — a committee
  20. track — a path
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. stand — to bear
  24. stand — for spectators

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