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. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. dip — to sink
  3. pop — music
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. current — electric
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. pop — soda
  8. current — happening now
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. current — of water
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. can — a tin
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. pop — to visit
  16. can — to be able to
  17. can — a tin
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. mark — a trace
  20. perch — the fish
  21. mark — a grade
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. trunk — of a tree

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