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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  23. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. hand — in cards
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. game — a match
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. game — wild animals
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. prune — to trim
  19. bulb — for light
  20. prune — to trim
  21. fine — all right
  22. prune — the fruit
  23. hand — help
  24. fine — high quality

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