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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. bear — the animal
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. face — to confront
  5. rush — hurry
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. capital — a city
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. bear — the animal
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. face — to point toward
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. can — to be able to
  15. capital — money
  16. stand — to bear
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. capital — a big letter
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. face — part of the head
  21. can — a tin
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. can — a tin
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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