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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. club — a group
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. net — for catching
  7. club — for golf
  8. lean — thin
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. spring — the season
  11. club — for dancing
  12. lean — to bend
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. spring — of water
  18. net — after costs
  19. spring — a coil
  20. sharp — clever
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. net — in sport

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