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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. fine — all right
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. pitch — completely
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. prune — to trim
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. lie — to recline
  14. prune — the fruit
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. rush — hurry
  19. perch — the fish
  20. fine — high quality
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. date — the fruit
  24. prune — to trim

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