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. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. current — electric
  6. perch — the fish
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. snap — to speak sharply
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. bark — to shout
  12. rash — a series
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. rash — hasty
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. toast — bread
  18. snap — to click
  19. current — of water
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. current — happening now
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. rash — on the skin

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