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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  2. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — a whip stroke
  2. snap — to click
  3. season — in sport
  4. key — for a lock
  5. snap — to speak sharply
  6. key — in music
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. rock — music
  9. land — a country
  10. nail — on a finger
  11. land — to come down
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. season — of the year
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. suit — to fit
  17. rock — a stone
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. key — the most important part
  20. suit — clothes
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. suit — in cards
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. land — ground

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