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 116 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. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  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 — on your feet
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. rock — a stone
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. stand — to bear
  6. bound — certain
  7. rush — hurry
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. ball — a dance
  11. bound — obliged
  12. ball — a great time
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. bound — tied together
  18. saw — the tool
  19. saw — the tool
  20. rock — music
  21. lash — an eyelash
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. rush — to hurry
  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