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. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  2. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — to lash out
  2. lash — an eyelash
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. branch — of a bank
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. branch — a division
  8. dip — to sink
  9. bulb — for light
  10. mark — a trace
  11. bulb — for light
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. staff — employees
  16. staff — a stick
  17. mark — a grade
  18. lash — a whip stroke
  19. board — a committee
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. staff — employees
  23. board — to get on
  24. bulb — of a plant

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