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 116 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. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — to clutch at straws
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. rock — music
  4. bark — a dog's sound
  5. suit — to fit
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. can — a tin
  8. rock — a stone
  9. saw — the tool
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. suit — in cards
  12. saw — the tool
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. can — to be able to
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. can — a tin
  19. bark — to shout
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. suit — clothes

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