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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. march — music
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. march — the month
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. sharp — clever
  11. bound — obliged
  12. foot — a measure
  13. bound — tied together
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. charge — electricity
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. bound — certain
  19. charge — in control
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. march — the month
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. charge — a price

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